Tree Lines: Imagining Environments

T R E E L I N E S LOUISE

KERNAGHAN

T R E E L I N E S Imagining Environments

A guide in creating your own tree lines through the lens of a socially engaged art project

4

SEA

LEVEL

Recording

4

TREE

Imagining

WA L K S

the

existing

LINE

WA L K S

the

possible

SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2

0

2

0

INTRODUCTION THE PROJECT Tree Lines was a socially engaged art project that took place in the Highlands of Scotland from September- December 2020. The artist, Louise Kernaghan invited various participants to walk with her for two distinct phases. The first phase, Sea Level Walks, was a quest to collectively share conversations and build connections with our local existing woodlands in an accessible way through making tree notes. The second phase, Tree Line Walks, actively transported the tree note collection to the theoretical tree line (approx. 600m above sea level) in a performative act of creating a line of tree notes at the location where we perhaps could or should experience the edge of a woodland.

THE ARTIST Louise Kernaghan is a socially engaged walking and visual artist based in Fort William, Lochaber. Through her project work, she seeks out ways to offer

opportunities to deepen our connection to our local natural environments in a way that can bring communities together with each other and to places for the benefit of ourselves and the environments in which we live.

As a qualified Mountain Leader and outdoor practitioner, and a background in the arts, she weaves these practices together in order to increase accessibility and opportunities for engagement with both fields of practice for the benefit of the participants she works with.

THE PANDEMIC Developed during the months of the Covid-19 pandemic and associated social restrictions during 2020, Tree Lines was a time and place responsive project, that sought to build on our collective response of coping with the pandemic through walking and connecting with our local environments. Adhering to all Scottish Government advice on physical distancing and hygiene throughout, the project was deliberately designed in a way that could be adapted to the constantly shifting context in which we all found ourselves in, whilst maintaining the thread of considering treescapes and the future possibilities of our woodlands.

THE GUIDEBOOK Through the documentation of the Tree Lines project, set out in this e-book on green pages are some examples of what you might like to try in your own local environments whilst out walking your usual and familiar routes.

As such, these are not recommendations of where to go, but rather suggestions of what you might like to consider or test out whilst walking in a familiar place.

SAFETY AND ETHICAL PRACTICE Please do not attempt any walking route that is beyond your experience level. It is important that before undertaking any walk outdoors at any level you check your local forecast, plan accordingly, understand the risks and have knowledge of the access rights, such as set out in the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. Any outdoor walk undertaken is at your own risk.

It is our duty as outdoor users and enthusiasts at all levels to act responsibly and care for our environment, to do no harm and to leave no trace.

SEA LEVEL WALKS

4 SE A LEVEL WALKS In woodland areas

O B S E R V I N G Conversations and stories

N O T E

T A K I N G

Loch an Eilein, Rothiemurchus

Canal tow path, Caol

Tom Giubhais pinewoods, Corpach

Spean Bridge woodlands

HOW

1.

TO

TAKE

Go for a walk along a local footpath

2.

Get out your paper and chosen implement

3.

Record an element of the tree you notice in some visual or written way*

4.

Continue your walk and make as many more as you like

* Examples could be to write words or a poem, record the species name, take a bark rubbing or sketch an image.

A

TREE

NOTE

Suggested materials: •

A few pieces of A5 paper/card or smaller

•

Oil pastel or crayon

•

Pencil or pen

HOW

TO

MAKE

OBSERVATIONS

Go for a walk along a familiar local trail and stop by a tree that you like.

See if you can answer some of these questions: Can you get close to it?

Does it bring back any memories?

What does the bark feel like?

What does it smell like?

What shape are the leaves?

What are the edges of the leaves like?

What colour is the trunk and branches?

Can you see any like it nearby?

How long do you think it has been here?

How do you think it got here?

You can turn these observations into tree notes, or simply consider them in your mind.

TREE LINE WALKS

4 TREE LINE WALKS To 600m above sea level

I M A G I N I N G The past and the future

P L A C E

M A K I N G

Aonach Mòr, Grey Corries

Sgùrr a’ Mhàim, Mamores

Meall an t-Suidhe, Ben Nevis

Sròn Garbh, Glencoe

HOW

TO

MAKE

A

TREE

LINE

1.

Collect all your tree notes

Materials:

2.

Lay them in your chosen order, side by

•

A collection of tree notes

side and facing up

•

A needle strong enough to go

3.

stitch* 4.

Once completed, fold the pages together into a concertina book

5.

though paper

Stitch each edge together using loose

Select a place to pull out your transportable tree line. Remember to always take it away with you and leave no trace

* If stitching is too tight, the pages will not open and close smoothly. You may wish to practice on some spare paper.

•

Thread

HOW

TO

WALK

A

TREE

LINE

High Level

The

natural

Recommended for experienced hillwalkers only

generally considered to be somewhere

1.

tree

line

between

is

600-

Work out what the natural tree line height

650m above sea level across

could be in your area

Scotland although regional

2.

Walk up a hillside that you are familiar with

and climatic variations apply.

3.

Stop at the height you identified (600m for example)

4.

Consider: Have you emerged at the natural edge of a woodland? Have you been walking through a treeless environment for some time?

5.

Begin walking a horizontal line at this height if the terrain is appropriate

6.

You have walked an imagined natural tree line

C O N V E R S AT I O N S Native woodlands Scots pine The Caledonian Rainforest A local oakwood A local pinewood Sycamore and ash Habitats and ecosystems Learning

in

the

lockdown

Folklore and superstition Pioneer trees Birch and rowan The circumference of a limb The stillness A collaborative drawing

C O N V E R S AT I O N S The edge of plantation woods The riparian zone A line of walkers The non-existent tree line An imagined place For the future Ownership and connections Rights of access and barriers Alternative ways of exploring Finding our feet A pair of buzzards The wild weather Biting cold hands To not go to the top but stop

Thanks to all who participated, engaged and supported

All images in this publication were taken by and belong to Louise Kernaghan

www.louisekernaghan.com