A brand new exhibition exploring some of the key challenges facing our world and its inhabitants has opened at Grizedale Forest, from 19 December until 28 April 2020.
The Earth Photo 2019 competition and exhibition, developed by Forestry England and the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) offers a series of stunning and thought-provoking images of the planet.
Grizedale Forest is only one of four locations around the UK to be lucky enough to host the exhibition. Located in Grizedale’s exhibition gallery, at the Visitor Centre, it includes 35 captivating photographs focussing on four key themes – People, Nature, Place and Changing Forests, a brand new category for this year which encourages photographers to explore what a changing forest meant to them.
The images have been carefully selected by a panel of experts from over a thousand submitted for the Earth Photo competition. They include stunning images from the Artic exploring the impact of climate change, rare insights into communities living amongst huge landfill sites in Indonesia, striking images of forest fires in Catalonia and poignant pictures of wildlife having to adapt to more urban environments.
Closer to home David Green’s image ‘Old Hedge, Venton Wood, Devon’ the winner of the Changing Forests category explores the survival instinct of our forests. It displays a long-forgotten boundary hedge which has grown free of the barbed wire surrounding it.
Hazel Stone, Forestry England’s Arts Development Manager for North England, said: “Grizedale Forest first established its reputation for supporting art in 1977 with its site specific sculpture collection sited throughout the forest for visitors to explore. Since then the arts programme continues to engage with a number of art forms and contemporary artists who explore different aspects of the forest and what interests them in their practice.
“2019 has been an exciting year for the arts at Grizedale as we reconnect with artists who established their practice here such as Sally Matthews, provide new residency opportunities for emerging and established artists and bring to our audiences works by internationally renowned artists such as Yoko Ono and her Wish Tree for Peace Project.
“We look forward to welcoming visitors to the exhibition to spend time enjoying the photographs and consider the four themes of the exhibition that are integral to the work we do at Grizedale, a special place that informs, inspires and rejuvenates the people who visit.
“As many of these images show, climate change is an issue that people and nature are dealing with right across the planet. Our forests are no different and we are working hard to ensure they can adapt to this changing climate and continue to thrive.”
Grizedale Forest provides a perfect setting to explore these breath-taking images from around the world. The exhibition is free and open from 10am until 4pm daily.
For more information on Earth Photo, visit www.forestryengland.uk/earth-photo