Lynne Hull – Grizedale Tarn – 1991
Material: Wood
Trail: Grizedale Tarn Trail
Theme: Nature
Form: Abstract
Maps Featured on: ?, Possibly 1992
Status: Decommissioned
Quote from the Artist – “One objective of my project was to create a place attractive to humans but also protected by decorative screening to discourage people from disturbing the rest of the area, which would be reserved for wildlife. I developed a screened observation point for humans, an island for water fowl nesting, a goose nesting platform, kestrel and goldeneye nest structures, songbird housing and bat boxes on stilts. The trail into the installation was marked with both real and falsefront birdboxes.”
This sculpture was designed to help wildlife, it was just next to Grizedale Tarn. At this time the tarn was a private area for wildlife, however after nearby trees were felled visitors were walking up the tarn and disturbing wildlife. This sculpture was a way to encourage the visitors to come to this view point, to see the tarn but also minimise disturbance for the local wildlife.
The work had two parts, one for people, one for animals. Out in the tarn sculptural bird perches were installed along with numerous bird and bat boxes. The trail into the site was lined with bird boxes with arrows on to show people where to go. The artwork then worked as a hide for visitors on the tarn shoreline.
Storms a couple of years after construction damaged the work and it was taken off the maps, supposedly it was still partially in situ and Lynne approached Grizedale to ask whether she could restore it, however they declined as they had too many other projects at that time. The seat for bird watching certainly remained until the mid 2000s, as for the rest there was no sign when I went there to see Only One Fish Left around 1999.
Photograph Taken Approximately 2004
Artist’s Website: eco-art.org
Page last updated April 2020
Grizedale Forest Sculpture An Unofficial Archive 