The Clearing
A London Borough of Waltham Forest Making Places competition winning design in collaboration with sculptor Owen Bullett.
The creation of a free to use clearing in the middle of this wooded area. An 8m diameter beaten earth circle will be surrounded by 6x6m tall carved wooden posts, each tapering away to the top. Above each post a metal wind chime will be fixed. These will reflect the light and make a gently audible sound as they shimmer in the breeze. This enchanted clearing will be further enhanced by a variety of roughly hewn chainsawn wooden ‘boulders’. These will sit around the edges of the earth circle, providing seating for beguiled passers-by and entranced playgroup attendees alike. There already exists a small partially cleared area, closer to the main woodchip path through the woods. This is currently used by the nursery Forest School, but if increased in scale could benefit the broader community and provide a site for a wider variety of uses- open air concerts, dance, yoga, wildlife clubs, etc. We would envisage the boulders to be shaped on site, at a time when local residents will be invited to visit and see sculpture in action! Our aim is to make this installaton a local focus point within the park.
