Hurworth Tree
Hurworth Tree is a community-based wood carving project that aims to bring together residents of all ages to collaborate on creating large scale wood sculptures that reflect the identity and stories of the community.
Supported by Hurworth Parish Council and County Durham Community Foundation, Arts and Culture Grant, linked to OnPathEnergy
Dating back to 1875, Hurworth Grange is a popular community centre that provides a home for a wide range of village events and activities,. During the Covid lockdown periods the grounds of the community centre were a valuable resource for local people and were well used.
An unexpected outcome of this use was the emergence of a spontaneous discovery trail along the pathways and wooded areas in the grounds, visitors began to leave painted stones and tiny makeshift doors and doorways, for other people to find and add to.
This project sought to build on this idea of discovering artworks in outdoor spaces and is a celebration of the architecture of the historic building which was reflected in the impromptu trail that local people started.
Oak Door, Book Seat and Dragonfly
The artworks were co-created with Hurworth residents
The beech tree, which stood in the grounds of the Hurworth Grange Community Centre in Hurworth-upon-Tees, had to be felled after becoming dangerous, but was cut down in a way that would allow for a memorial to the tree to be created from the remaining trunk.
Hurworth Parish Council set up a community project to look at the best way to commemorate the tree, with local people of all ages being invited to take part and put their ideas forward for what might be created.
A wood carving group was then formed in the village, with local residents meeting regularly to hone their ideas for the tree and learn new woodcarving skills.
Making the Oak Door
Making a Dragonfly
Peter Allan, Clerk at Hurworth Parish Council, who has been leading the project alongside Cllr Janine Forster, says: “The beech tree was a hugely cherished part of the village environment, and its loss caused a great deal of upset in the village, but with the dangerous condition in which it had got, we were left with no choice but to take it down."
“We wanted to do something to commemorate what the tree had been and had meant to the village, and started looking at ways we could use what remained of it for this purpose."
“The idea has really taken off from there and there’s a huge amount of enthusiasm and excitement right across our community about what’s going to be created here, especially as everyone involved is going to be able to say they had a hand in creating something that we hope will last for many decades."
“The group’s members are really enjoying learning the skills that will help them create the memorial and it’s also helping to create new connections within our community right across the generations."
Book Seat