Coupled Oaks at Oxleas Wood

Event Information

Coupled Oaks at Oxleas Wood

Visit the ancient trees of Oxleas Wood. Officially designated at a SSSI – (a sight of special scientific interest). 

Oxleas wood is part of our national heritage and a South East London treasure. Some parts are as ancient at 8,000 years and go back to the last ice age.
As a teenager, my friends and I would hang out in Oxleas wood after school, by the derelict C18th folly called Severndroog Castle.

Later as a mother, I walked with my daughters many times to visit these ancient woods. We discovered for ourselves, two distinct Oak trees connected together and reaching up towards the sky. They enjoyed climbing and hiding around these trees, which seem to pull us close and feel familiar somehow.

During the Covid epidemic myself and many others, will remember that a walk in the woods was felt grounding and a place of hope in contrast to the fear and chaos that surrounded us.

Art in response to the location - available for sale all proceeds go to the Urban Tree Festival

As an artist I have responded to these trees with an imagined three headed serpent, hiding up in the trees only to appear when they are safe. They only reveal themselves to those who are open to seeing them. Like the trees, they are separate yet joined. The serpent appears and morphs into representations of the stages of womanhood, sometimes they are sisters, sometimes as mother and daughters and sometimes as different emotional states of one being.

Officially designated at a SSSI – a sight of special scientific interest. You will find Silver
Birch, Coppice Hazel, Oak and Hornbeam. You may also find our coupled of Oaks that I had used as inspiration for my artwork.

To purhcase a copy visit our online shop.

Location

Oxleas Woods, South East London

Crown Woods Ln, London SE18.

Nearest train; Falconwood, Buses; 89, B16, 486

Contributors

Himani Weir
Himani J Weir is an artist and local resident who lives near Oxleas Wood in Royal borough of Greenwich. She responds to her environment, the wider history of local buildings through story, ceramics and illustration.

https://cargocollective.com/himaniweir

For images of art work: Instagram: @himanijweir