Tree Stewarding

Event Information

Within the root and grain of every tree, there exists a story, an individual story waiting to be told, a story we can only hear if we listen quietly and if we listen carefully. When we hear their story, we can become a steward, a guardian of this life force. Just as they steward our own life force. By listening and telling their story, we tell our own story and a braiding occurs. A braiding between vertical beings.

Tree stewarding is a guided walk-shop and online gathering exploring the stories of trees that surround us in our everyday. Unfolding story through touch; the walk will guide sensory engagement, awakening the voices of our trees through responsive writing. Tree stewarding is an invitation to take a closer look, to touch and to engage in gratitude with our local trees. 

Participants will be invited to choose a tree within their locality, prior to the walk-shop. This tree might live within their garden, a local park or street. We will initially gather via zoom to meet, introducing ourselves and our trees and to receive tree stewarding guides. The guides will offer eco-therapeutic activity and creative writing prompts to engage with while outside. We will gather together online afterwards to share experience and bring the story of our trees into the space, together becoming stewards of these life forces.

Structure:

(online) Meet and greet via zoom: 20 minutes

(offline) Walk outdoors, to connect with chosen tree: 40 minutes

(online) Return to share tree stories via zoom: 30 minutes

Contributor

Stephanie Whitelaw is a walking artist and eco-therapist. Her art practice cultivates personal engagements with local landscapes, both physical and digital, encouraging a deeper sense of understanding. Her work cultivates reciprocal dialogue with nature in both urban and rural contexts, through walking, site-responsive art and object making.