The Afterlife of a Tree
At the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden,
Visitors
may notice the Sweet Chestnut tree nearing the end of its life, with only a
thin strip of living tissue on its trunk. As trees age, they shed branches and
lose structural integrity. We've improved this tree's stability by removing
weak branches.
When wood dies, fungi, bacteria, and insects colonize it, providing habitats for organisms like spiders, mites, bats, and birds. In the final decomposition stage, wood becomes humus, enriching the soil.
In response to this concept, I aimed to portray the theme positively, illustrating how this dying tree supports an entire garden ecosystem—from plants and small insects to creatures like roe deer.
2024
When wood dies, fungi, bacteria, and insects colonize it, providing habitats for organisms like spiders, mites, bats, and birds. In the final decomposition stage, wood becomes humus, enriching the soil.
In response to this concept, I aimed to portray the theme positively, illustrating how this dying tree supports an entire garden ecosystem—from plants and small insects to creatures like roe deer.
2024
