Lichfield Cathedral Peace Woodland

The Peace Woodland, believed to be the only one outside Jerusalem, is being created from 1,918 native saplings saved from landfill and planted around the Cathedral to build a unique living piece of artwork.

This Peace Woodland will grow around the edge of the Cathedral and is to become central to a stunning visual piece of art – created and imagined by Lichfield Cathedral’s own artist in residence, Peter Walker.

It is part of a series of worship, music, art, and special events called Imagine Peace organised by the Cathedral throughout 2018 to commemorate the centenary of the Armistice.

Peter, who has spent time working with the volunteers at Beacon Park Community Garden in Lichfield said: “This project has caught the imagination of the volunteers here – they have become part of a creative living art installation – and together we have chosen these native trees carefully – the different heights will represent the possibility of lives lost, young and old. ”

The temporary woodland will be in place around the Cathedral from August until next Easter when it will be transported to Beacon Park in a joint venture between the Cathedral and Lichfield District Council to create a permanent Peace Woodland there – believed to be the only Peace Woodland outside Jerusalem.

The Dean of Lichfield, the Very Revd Adrian Dorber said: “2018 marks 100 years since the guns of World War One fell silent. Those who survived hoped it would be the war to end all wars, but the last century has seen millions more suffer in conflict all around the world.

“We must never forget the sacrifices made in war – we must also always continue to strive for peace.”