Epping Forest Talk – Feral Forest:

Event Information

Join artists Melissa Moore and Danny Treacy, and author Will Ashon, for an evening exploring ideas and stories in relation to Epping Forest: how the figurative trees and thickets of woods are living archives and collective spaces that connect us across time. An event for curious minds, creative souls, and anyone who's interested in the relationship between people and nature through an artistic, cultural, or social lens.

What we will be exploring:

Melissa has been especially interested in the pollarded trees and researching the practices of lopping, the social histories of common land and enclosure. She views these visually captivating veterans as living archives of managed resources and social relations existing before the industrial revolution, enclosure, and our current consumerist era. The fascination these trees hold will be discussed in relation to ideas of ‘re-enchantment’, which can summon various ideas about reconnecting with animate nature.

Danny will be talking about the Forest as a host for collectives, about joy, and about challenging the status of acts taking place in the Forest.

Contributors

Melissa Moore

Melissa Moore is a Course Director at London College of Fashion, UAL and an artist. She studied at Manchester Metropolitan University, Kunstuniversität Linz, and The Royal College of Art. Her photographic work has been exhibited and published internationally, and is in public and private collections. Her series ‘Foris’ explores her interest in urban trees, and her current work is based in Epping Forest.

Danny Treacy

In his practice, Danny Treacy explores the ideas of land use, shared experience and social invisibility. Treacy is interested in territories where people gather because there is nowhere else to go, where collectives exist in a fragile state because of social exclusion. Often these places are overlooked and not perceived to have a positive function, yet through human interaction and intervention, act as a collective for those who are dislocated or marginalised.

Organisation

About Epping Forest Talks:

‘Epping Forest Talks’ is a series of talk programmes that we are hosting throughout the year to celebrate Epping Forest’s heritage, culture, and environmental importance. We aim to host each talk in different venues in and around the Forest, to celebrate the diverse landscape and rich history of this wonderful ancient Forest.

We are excited to be part of Urban Tree Festival again this year. Moving on from last years’ successful talk and panel discussion with Mark Gorman and Patricia Moxey on the theme ‘Does Epping Forest Need Saving Again?’, this year, we will explore connections between people and Epping Forest through art and storytelling.

The session will feature artists Melissa Moore and Danny Treacy, and author Will Ashon, all of whom are deeply connected with Epping Forest in various projects inspired by the place, its people, and their stories.

We are a charity and a membership organisation with a big mission to inspire people about Epping Forest, and to conserve and protect its irreplaceable biodiversity, culture and heritage now and for generations to come.

https://efht.org.uk

Location

Waltham Forest Council Chamber, Rectory Road London E17 4SU