The Felled Areas Have Been Replanted:
A History of Chopwell Wood

In 2020 artist duo, Mia & Eric began a three year research and engagement process to create a new work for Chopwell Wood--a small forest on the edge of Gateshead. As part of their research they came across an exquisite "History of Chopwell Forest" written by the Forestry Commission in 1951. Throughout the report the author discusses the use of the woods, why certain tree species were planted, and the many missteps previous generations made in managing the forest. The report captures the genesis of Chopwell Wood as we know it now.

Mia & Eric have translated the report into a short audio-book that can only be listened to while in Chopwell Wood itself. The artists invite residents of the North East to wander through the woods--what traces of this history can you see or experience around you today?

Chopwell Wood is a fascinating 900-acre forest that represents  thousands of years of human industrial, cultural, and ecological use. For centuries trees were harvested for ships, churches, and tanning hides. Coal was mined from the early thirteenth century until 1966. Recreation is now the main industry in the wood. Except in a few small locations, only the footprint and geological features of the ancient forest remain. Chopwell Wood is a human built landscape--one that has been cut down and replanted multiple times.

You can access the audio-book here: https://explore.echoes.xyz/collections/MPzGkhYLDi3X50yH