Photos: Saya Rose Media
Future Pasts - putting down roots for new generations
Saturday 27 January
D6 joined with artist Henna Asikainen and people new to the North East to plant an oak sapling at the Land of Oak Iron Heritage Centre in the Derwent Valley.
This communal act was a chance to celebrate Henna’s project Future Pasts, which over the past three years has invited people and families with lived experience of migration and displacement to discover local landscapes in a series of community walks - shared acts of connection.
Henna said: ‘The tree represents our contribution to this small corner of the world and for us is a symbol of sanctuary. By planting this tree, we mark the journeys traveled by plants and people, and how the tree and many of us have put down roots in new homes, bearing fruit, bringing beauty and becoming welcome and familiar members of our ecologies, cultures and communities.’
We were joined by ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) voluntary group the Conversation Group, Mark Shiperlee from Living Woods and D6’s chair Ros Rigby. Together we took turns to carry the oak to a spot that Mark had carefully selected, and each digging the ground and taking handfuls of compost, coir and charcoal to give the sapling the best start to establish strong roots and flourish in the years to come. As participant Ali said: ‘We are all behind this tree.’
The sapling’s new home, the Land of Oak and Iron, was once the heart of the North East’s iron and steel industry. It is now an heritage site and nature reserve, with the trees and plants rebalancing the carbon emitted by the burning of fossil fuels.
The tree is a poignant symbol of the contributions that refugees and migrants have made across the North East's diverse communities throughout time, as well as a belief in a kinder future towards humanity and nature. As Mark said: ‘The trees we enjoy today were planted by our grandparents, and the sapling we all just planted will grow to be enjoyed by generations to come.’
In this way, we look to the future while connecting with the past.
Partners and thanks
Future Pasts has been a three-year long visual arts commission produced by D6 and delivered in partnership with National Trust.
The programme has been supported by: National Lottery Heritage Fund; Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants; Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund; Newcastle University; Northumbria University.
With special thanks to the Land of Oak and Iron and Living Woods.
And with kind generosity from: CPRE Northumberland; Multilingual Conversation Group; Northumberland National Park Authority; Northern Print; North East Climate Justice Coalition; North East Solidarity and Teaching; Vindolanda Charitable Trust.
Find out more about Future Pasts here.
D6 joined with artist Henna Asikainen and people new to the North East to plant an oak sapling at the Land of Oak Iron Heritage Centre in the Derwent Valley.
This communal act was a chance to celebrate Henna’s project Future Pasts, which over the past three years has invited people and families with lived experience of migration and displacement to discover local landscapes in a series of community walks - shared acts of connection.
Henna said: ‘The tree represents our contribution to this small corner of the world and for us is a symbol of sanctuary. By planting this tree, we mark the journeys traveled by plants and people, and how the tree and many of us have put down roots in new homes, bearing fruit, bringing beauty and becoming welcome and familiar members of our ecologies, cultures and communities.’
We were joined by ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) voluntary group the Conversation Group, Mark Shiperlee from Living Woods and D6’s chair Ros Rigby. Together we took turns to carry the oak to a spot that Mark had carefully selected, and each digging the ground and taking handfuls of compost, coir and charcoal to give the sapling the best start to establish strong roots and flourish in the years to come. As participant Ali said: ‘We are all behind this tree.’
The sapling’s new home, the Land of Oak and Iron, was once the heart of the North East’s iron and steel industry. It is now an heritage site and nature reserve, with the trees and plants rebalancing the carbon emitted by the burning of fossil fuels.
The tree is a poignant symbol of the contributions that refugees and migrants have made across the North East's diverse communities throughout time, as well as a belief in a kinder future towards humanity and nature. As Mark said: ‘The trees we enjoy today were planted by our grandparents, and the sapling we all just planted will grow to be enjoyed by generations to come.’
In this way, we look to the future while connecting with the past.
Partners and thanks
Future Pasts has been a three-year long visual arts commission produced by D6 and delivered in partnership with National Trust.
The programme has been supported by: National Lottery Heritage Fund; Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants; Newcastle Cultural Investment Fund; Newcastle University; Northumbria University.
With special thanks to the Land of Oak and Iron and Living Woods.
And with kind generosity from: CPRE Northumberland; Multilingual Conversation Group; Northumberland National Park Authority; Northern Print; North East Climate Justice Coalition; North East Solidarity and Teaching; Vindolanda Charitable Trust.
Find out more about Future Pasts here.