David Nash OBE, Habitat.

In 2012, the University of Warwick was one of 60 locations chosen by the Woodland Trust for the site of a ‘Diamond Wood’ to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  The wood is open to the public and offers a chance to enjoy the natural environment, to walk along the paths and to play and picnic in the glades that have been created.

Land that was previously used for agriculture has been planted with 24,000 native, broadleaved trees and the university has worked with the Woodland Trust to ensure that this new wood will encourage biodiversity.

To coincide with the establishment of the wood, artist, David Nash OBE, has created a sculpture that invites the natural world to occupy his work.  Titled Habitat, it offers a perch for birds and a home for insects.  Slits have also been cut into the upper reaches to provide a home for bats.  Nash works worldwide with wood, trees and the natural environment and near his home in Wales he has planted a hillside with trees that are grouped and coppiced to become sculptural forms.

Richard Rogers Conservation assisted the installation of this monumental cedar wood sculpture, carefully uprighting it and installing on-site at the University of Warwick.  For pictures of the installation and of the finished piece, please click the photographs below.

All photographs courtesy of Martin Neeves.