Fantastical Forest

A unique public art project co-created with communities.

Upcoming events:

Saturday 30th November - Tree Charter Day, Wandlebury Country Park.

Featuring extraordinary illustrations of our natural world, this magical Forest of over 100 exquisite hangings has been co-created with 22 communities and 8 artists over the last 5 years. It is displayed across our region at events and also plays an important part in our advocacy work as a charity, campaigning for a greener, fairer and more sustainable future. This short film below, made by artist Susanne Jasilek, celebrates a day in April last year when 90 volunteers joined us to march the collection as part of the Earth Day protests outside of Westminster.

A Hidden World is a specially created soundscape of extraordinary sounds in nature which we often share as part of Fantastical Forest exhibitions - this is free to listen to here.

The roots of this project go back to the first lockdown in 2020, when, with schools, workplaces and public spaces closed, we were all reminded of the vital importance of being outdoors and immersed in nature. CCI gathered more than 60 tree stories from people across the city, highlighting favourite trees and locations. Artist Hilary Cox Condron persuaded Cambridge City Council to sign the tree charter, which pledges to protect, nurture and celebrate the power of trees. Later in the year, we held the first Fantastical Forest event at Wandelbury Country Park, displaying hangings featuring artwork created by artscapers from Mayfield and Girton Primary Schools working with CCI artist Caroline Wendling and inspired by the trees at Murray Edwards College.

In 2021 we expanded the Forest to include hangings featuring artwork inspired by the fascinating world of mycorrhizal fungi produced by 9 - 11 year olds from Arbury, St Laurence’s and Stapleford Primary Schools. Visitors could experience an immersive soundscape created for a film by artist Sally Todd. This incorporated the original soundscape created by artist Caroline Wendling working with sound artist Jake Ziegler and children from the 2020 workshops. A ‘found’ poem (included in the Gallery below), stitched together by poet Kaddy Benyon from words and phrases from 33 of the tree stories submitted in 2020, could also be enjoyed. The expanded Forest was displayed once again at Wandlebury Country Park and also on Christ’s Pieces in Cambridge city centre.

A total joy. The most memorable public art installation for me of the last decade.

Lewis Herbert, Leader, Cambridge City Council, 2021
This year I made the commitment to enjoy the nature I see around me even if things aren’t happening at the right time of the year and even if that scares me….this project reminds me of that very much and that is why it is so touching.

Visitor, 2022

In 2022 the Forest expanded further, this time incorporating 24 new hangings from our Chalk Dreams project in Abbey ward. This project involved people of all ages, and honoured the magical but fragile chalk streams that are such a distinct feature of our local landscape.

One of these – Coldham’s Brook – runs through the heart of the Abbey Community and was our focus for visits and conversations.

The Forest will continue to grow year on year, bringing joy and hope to all who encounter it.

The Forest was supported by Software Acumen, South Cambs District Council and Education Services 2010 in 2020, and a City Council S106 Public Art Grant in 2021/2022. In 2024 the Forest is connecting with the work of the City Council as part of the River Cam Climate Action Fund programme.