Community consultation inspires Tree and Bee habitat sculptures
Creative workshops explored how art can help wildlife rest and reconnect
Residents from across the area came together on Friday February 20 for a pair of creative consultation workshops that invited people to slow down, listen closely to nature, and help shape a new wildlife-focused public art project.
Local artist Amanda Moore and Gobledegook Theatre led the sessions as part of a community consultation for the Tree and Bee Network, a project designed to support birds, bees and insects as they move through the local landscape.
The workshops took place in the morning at Upper Barn Copse open space in Fair Oak and in the afternoon on Stoke Park Road, welcoming residents of all ages. Each session began with an introduction to the wider Tree and Bee Network project and to the Tree and Bee Habitat Sculptures, which are planned for installation in Upper Barn Copse and Bishopstoke in 2026.
Organisers explained that the sculptures were being developed as functional artworks, creative structures that would also act as vital wildlife habitats. Participants were encouraged to think of them as motorway service stations for nature, safe stopping points where birds, bees and bugs could rest, nest and refuel as they travel through increasingly fragmented environments.
A key focus of the workshops was the idea of slowing down and reconnecting with the natural world. This was brought to life through a guided sound walk using geophones (brightly coloured aluminium ear trumpets that amplify subtle environmental sounds). As participants moved quietly through the spaces, they paused to listen to birdsong, rustling leaves and the hidden sounds of life beneath their feet, experiencing their surroundings in a more mindful way.
Following the sound walk, attendees took part in hands-on design activities, sharing ideas and sketches for the habitat sculptures. Conversations reflected local knowledge of wildlife, with residents discussing where birds nested, where bees were most active and how the sculptures could best support movement through the area. Children suggested playful and practical features for insects, while adults reflected on how green spaces could offer moments of calm for both people and wildlife.
The afternoon session repeated the process, giving more community members the opportunity to contribute. Feedback gathered across the day highlighted a shared desire to protect local nature while creating welcoming, thoughtful spaces that encourage people to pause rather than pass through.
Organisers said the consultation would play a crucial role in shaping the final designs of the Tree and Bee Habitat Sculptures. The ideas, observations and conversations from the workshops will now feed directly into the next stage of development ahead of the 2026 installations.
By the end of the day, the workshops had not only generated creative input for the project but also fostered a deeper connection between residents and their local environment - reinforcing the Tree and Bee Network’s vision of a landscape where wildlife, creativity and community can all thrive.
Learn more about the Tree and Bee habitat sculpture project.