A GIANT mural of a beautiful oak tree will soon appear in the centre of Newton Abbot

The Community Tree is an ambitious project focussing on the local communities’ relationship with nature, and the artwork is set to emerge on a wall opposite the library in the town, hopefully within the next seven weeks.

Working on the project are artists Catherine West and Joe Webster (aka EnuF), who attended a Make and Create workshop at Newton Abbot Museum last weekend where they shared the beginnings of their design and helped create a freestyle fabric collage version of the tree mural.

‘The mural is inspired by the centenary of a giant oak tree that was felled to make way for the war memorial at the end of Queen Street,’ said Joe.

‘We’re inviting everyone to take part in the project by submitting words of phrases which will be painted into the 12 metre high artwork and to explore the project themes through creative actives.’

The project has been made possible thanks to the help of Teignbridge District Council, Rotary Newton Abbot and Action on Climate in Teignbridge. For more details on the project see www.joewebsterart.com and www.significantseams.org.uk

Community Tree event at Newton Abbot Museum. Sofia Nosowska (8) gets a helping hand from mum Katy
Sofia Nosowska (8) from Newton Abbot gets a helping hand from mum Katy (Steve Pope/MDA)
Community Tree event at Newton Abbot Museum. Bea Bartholemew (11) from Dawlish
Bea Bartholemew (11) from Dawlish (Steve Pope/MDA)
Community Tree event at Newton Abbot Museum. Catherine West of Significant Seams
Stitching advice from Catherine West of Significant Seams (Steve Pope/MDA)
Community Tree event at Newton Abbot Museum.
Community Tree event at Newton Abbot Museum. (Steve Pope/MDA)
Community Tree event at Newton Abbot Museum. Alfie Brooker (6)
Six-year old Alfie Brooker from Paignton. (Steve Pope/MDA)