The Tree Charter Bell Ceremony III

The Tree Charter Bell is used as a focus for ceremonies around tree planting activities in connection with The Woodland Trust. Locke worked with John Taylor Bells in Loughborough to cast a large tower bell tuned to the frequency of The Original Bramley Apple Tree in Southwell. The bell resonates at 500HZ when the temperature is 21 degrees, when the temperature changes so too does the resonance of the bell. In many cultures, the bell has significance. For example: in the UK bells are used to call people together and also as a warning sign. Using this idea as a trigger and as part of the growing body of research, Locke explores situations in view of socially engaged practice, bringing groups of people together in order to consider relationships to significant trees, nature, historic places and climate change. The aim is to explore how we feel in regard to our changing environments and how we communicate these feelings. Through this project the artist is asking important questions that are relevant now, for example: What are the possibilities for expressing how we feel about our changing climate? Can we send messages out in order to express our fears and is it possible to instigate action through artistic interventions?.

The Tree Charter Bell Ceremony III was an event which happened during National Tree Week 2021. Working and consulting with Debbie Alston (wildlife and biodiversity expert and lecturer within the School of Built and Natural Environment at Derby University, Liz Thompson (Estate Management Environment and Sustainability Manager) and Matthew Keigher (Estates Grounds Maintenance Supervisor) the best approaches and planting sites were agreed. Together with Fine Art and Microbiology Students, Caroline Planted 105 Woodland Trust tree saplings in green spaces at the Kedlestone Road Campus. 15 Silver Birch, Wild Cherry, Hawthorne, Hazel, Dogwood and Rowan saplings were planted.

Information cards encouraging interest in ecological issues and details about the project were given out by the students and they rang the Tree Charter bell for each new tree.