Things tend to move rather more slowly in matters arboreal: just ask the Ents in J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings… And over in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in east London, there has also been a sedate coming-together of trees and rings. Celebrations took place last on Thursday (30 July) at the unveiling of the last of Ackroyd & Harvey’s ten History Trees (2012-15), completing the duo’s major Olympic commission to plant ten trees at all of the park’s main entrances.
Each of these mature specimens—chosen to reflect the biodiversity of the park and the global vision of the Olympics—supports a large steel or bronze ring within its crown, which has been engraved on the inside with text relating to the history of each specific tree location. Three History Trees were planted to mark the opening of the 2012 games, with the remaining seven being put in place since the park re-opened to the public. The final one to go in is the rather wonderfully named liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum), which bears a bronze ring. It is conveniently situated near the park’s, aptly titled, Timber Lodge Café where last night’s final toasts took place. Thankfully, all the Olympic Park bigwigs turned a blind eye to the liberties Ackroyd & Harvey (and friends) were taking with the “Keep Off The Grass” signs whilst cavorting beneath the final fruits of their endeavours…