Some wild places have the power to captivate all who visit them, not because they have unrivalled views or superior scenery but because they instil in the visitor a sense of wonder and awe. Staverton Thicks in Suffolk is one such place. It’s ancient woodland is a landscape of fairytale qualities where vast oaks stand side by side with some of the tallest holly trees in Britain. Reminiscent of childhood stories, the ‘Thicks’ is a chaotic tangle of twisted branches where light is sparse and evergreen curtains of holly hang in the air. Dead and decaying boughs and trunks litter the floor and even on the brightest of days the air is cool and the forest dark. For all who enter here mystery abounds and imagination runs wild 

This project focuses on the fairytale qualities of the ‘Thicks’, its Tolkienesque trees, the fallen beasts imagined in the deadwood and the symbiosis of its compound trees formed as different species grow on top of one another. 

This is an ongoing project to document my observations in this ancient woodland. Every visit I make to the ‘Thicks’ is different and no matter how familiar it becomes there is always something new to discover. It remains a magical place full of mystery and enchantment. 

If you would like to know more or discuss any aspect of this project then please don’t hesitate to get in touch