The acclaimed national Art project will be brought to Thamesmead by artists Ackroyd & Harvey and Peabody with opportunities for the local community to participate in creative activities to prepare for the planting of a circle of special oak trees and an evening event to ceremonially plant the final tree to complete the circle.
Beuys’ Acorns
The ground for each circle is prepared by a creative programme of public engagement – the Prelude: working closely with local practitioners and groups to creatively celebrate the Planting and stimulate a legacy of radicle [sic]* care to foster a reciprocal ecology between plants and humans with the trees at the centre.
Each circle will be deeply rooted in the land and local people.
The duration of the planting scheme is 2025-2027.
Working closely with the outreach and education departments of arts institutions, local practitioners and community residents, the artists embrace the spirit of Beuys’ Acorns as a catalyst artwork to create a series of workshops, actions and activities that have public participation at the core.
Since its inception, Beuys’ Acorns has been exhibited across the UK and France in venues including Tate Modern, London; Royal Academy of Arts, London; Sainsbury Centre, Norwich; Southbank Centre, London; CUBE, Manchester; Le Jardin Botanique, Bordeaux; Le Potager Du Roi and La Maréchalerie, Versailles. Exhibition of the trees has been in parallel to live research and public conversations with the artists and invited guests into the cultural, biological and climatic significance of trees in a rapidly urbanising world.
One tree was permanently planted at Tate Modern in 2021 to celebrate Joseph Beuys’ centennial and acknowledge Tate declaring a climate and ecological emergency and three circles have been planted to date at Harding’s Pits, King’s Lynn; Sainsbury Centre, Norwich and Hampton Common, Twickenham.
* The botanical spelling ‘radicle’ has been deliberately chosen, meaning the ‘primary root’ rather than ‘radical’, though it is hoped to convey the meaning of both spellings with this word.
'Beuys' Film Screening and Ackroyd & Harvey in Conversation
Enjoy a rare screening of filmmaker Andres Veiel's documentary Beuys to celebrate the planting of a new circle of seven oak trees in Thamesmead.
A post-screening conversation with Heather and Dan, hosted by Nicolas Ehler, Director of the Goethe-Institute London will also take place. Find out more about the inspiration behind the project on Wednesday 21 January from 6.30pm at The Nest, Cygnet Square.
Beuys' Acorns: The Seventh Oak
See the culmination of renowned artists Ackroyd & Harvey’s project to bring a circle of oaks to Thamesmead at this atmospheric community gathering on Thursday 29 January, from 5.30pm.
Expect an atmospheric evening with the new oaks beautifully illuminated, creative activities available and the Thamesmead Community Choir performing.
Community Tree Planting Day - Saturday 6 December from 10am to 2pm
Sign up to plant a tree in Manorway Park on Saturday 6 December. Internationally-acclaimed artists Ackroyd & Harvey will also run a workshop to explore the story of Crossway Park's new oak circle and what it means for the local community.
Come and participate in making leaf prints, drawings and writings and learn more about the ecology of oak trees and gall wasps in producing ink.