Documenting Veteran Trees with Tony Wade at YSP/ Solitary Trees
Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to help document an ancient oak tree at Yorkshire Sculpture Park alongside artist Tony Wade and the Apple Tree Ladies group. As part of the Ancient Woodland Inventory, we learnt how to take measurements and observations of veteran trees, learning to see them not just as part of the landscape, but as living archives.
Documenting the trees with Tony and the group gave me a deeper appreciation of the care and reflection that goes into his work. Being Apart of the process wasn’t just educational. It was healing. It asked us to slow down, to observe closely, and to value what often goes unnoticed.
As part of this process, we were also invited back to Tony’s exhibition at YSP, where he showcased the digital drawings he made on Procreate, from documenting the many veteran trees scattered across the park. Wade doesn’t over complicate these designs; instead, he captures their individuality; each curve, twist, hollow, and knot, as if they were identical portraits.
Solitary Trees reminded me that solitude doesn’t mean isolation. It can mean grounding. Presence. A space to observe and grow. Spending time with these trees, both through documentation and art, leaves a lasting impact on how I think about the land, community, and creative process.