In 2020 Robert Darch was commissioned by the Devon Wildlife Trust and Beaford Arts to make an artistic response to Ash Dieback in Devon as part of The Saving Devon’s Treescapes Project. His work acts as an archive of place, people and the changing landscape in Devon, whilst also reflecting on our impact on the the natural environment.
‘The spores of the fungus are carried on the wind, travelling for miles, silent and unseen looking for a host. They fall from the sky, first sticking to the leaves and then penetrating deep inside the tree. Once colonised, the fungus grows inside the tree blocking its water transport systems and eventually causing the tree to die. The Fungus which causes Ash Dieback originated in Asia where the native species are resistant to the disease. The first recorded case of the fungus in the UK was in 2006, having made its way to Europe on imported trees. Since then the disease has slowly been spreading and evidence of dieback can now be seen across Britain. However, we are only at the beginning of the epidemic and it is estimated that over the next ten to fifteen years Ash Dieback will eventually kill around 80% of the ash trees in the UK.’
The Ash Tree is one of the most common trees in the United Kingdom and their loss will be devastating for habitats and the natural environment. It is predicted to cost £15 billion to manage the dieback. The Saving Devon’s Treescapes Project was led by Devon Wildlife Trust on behalf of the Devon Ash Dieback Resilience Forum. The aim was to replant native species to help offset the loss of Ash Trees and to engage and educate the public.
It was a partnership project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, One Tree Planted and Tesco Bags of Help. Following on from the initial commission in 2020, the DWT supported Robert’s work for the the project which culminated in 2026. Robert will continue to document Ash Dieback, adding to the archive over the coming years. The Gallery above contains a selection of the images he has taken. Photographs from the commission will also form part of the Beaford Archive which contains over 80,000 images of Devon life.
