Community Insights and Inspirations
Artful contributions inspired primarily by the Lockdown Woods project
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Poems
These two poems were presented at the Goldwell Park Lockdown Wood. Blake, Piper and Alice spoke during the special ceremony, dedicating the wood to a healthy future for our families and our world, and in memory of all we have lost to COVID-19.
Poem for Our Remembrance
by Blake L Ludwig, August 2021
They are easily forgotten,
those who have fallen before us,
Those old and wise
and aged, or the sick
Who once cradled us,
gave us shelter, and
consoled us in time of need -
not always through words, but in their Being.
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Their steadfast presence gave an anchorage,
a constant, always ones to return to
and cradle us with acceptance:
A smile, a hand,
a light breeze, simple words
to remind us again and again
Of our connection to some lineage,
a thread that kept us from drifting too far.
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These trees, these young saplings
like our memories of our old ones
who have left
and we have lost,
They will need our nurturing now
to keep them alive.
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In the tending we will discover
our own anchoring
Our caring will cast tendrils
that root us, rebuild refuges
that again, one day, others will
come, sit beside us and
find safe harbour - succour
in such times of need and uncertainty
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Come, find shelter, when life is so
weighty to carry,
Our sacrificial act of tending,
Our tendering,
is a giving back, make an offering
to replace what was lost,
rebuild a relationship,
hold a memory so dear our heart breaks.
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May we stay broken.
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Cherish this time, and
in our process, let us relearn a reciprocity
In this simple act:
Teach us and nurture us
as we dig and plant
and water
and relearn the seasons passing.
A Cycle of Trees
Piper Turner (age 10) & Alice Green (age 9) from Hungerford Primary School
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The tree it grew,
Up towards the blue.
To the world it waves,
On windy days.
Blossoms bloom,
Outside my room.
The rain keeps me alive,
Whilst my leaves thrive.
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I watched as years went by,
As my branches reach for the sky.
My roots stretched to the ground,
To the Earth I'm bound.
Life goes on,
And my leaves are gone,
I'm growing weary and old,
I should move on I'm told.
My space is now clear,
I've cried my last tear.
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And then someone comes along,
To plant another one,
For generations to come.
Music
Lockdown Wood
Composed by Ron McPhee | Performed by 'Strings Attached'
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This piece was first heard at our dedication ceremony for our Hungerford site in Westbrook Down on 22nd May 2021. It was performed by Ron and Rosie, aka 'Strings Attached'
Tree Dedication
This project is about coming to terms with the enormous losses suffered during the pandemic. Maybe you have lost someone due to COVID-19 or know individuals or businesses working exceptionally hard to keep our country running throughout this period?
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We have approximately 200 lovely young trees, standing at about 6 feet tall, which were planted by the district council alongside our smaller saplings. These trees are perfect for dedications, and the council has graciously allowed us to use them for dedications from members of the local community.
If you are interested, please email us and we will send some guidance notes.
Private dedication idea. Artwork by Jackie Paynter.
Artwork
This amazing banner was created for our lockdown woods by Hungerford Primary School Pupils
