Tree Dressing Day

Tree Dressing at Lauderdale House

Lauderdale House is an Arts and Education Centre based in a 16th century Tudor mansion in Highgate, North London.

A 30-acre park that hosts a wide range of wildlife, many varieties of trees and plants, as well as two large ponds, surrounds the House. 

In the Winter and Summer months the park comes alive with the work of primary schools from the Borough of Camden. The first of these spectacular Tree Dressing Exhibitions happened on December 5th 2003.

Children become involved with the project at the beginning of the Autumn term when they come to visit the House to take part in conservation and bio-diversity workshops.

During the sessions, run by the Arts Education Officer and the Conservation Officer from Camden Parks, pupils adopt a tree, which will be theirs for the entire year! The Arts Education Officer then develops outreach sessions to create 3D artwork, which will eventually be hung in their tree. On the day of the final exhibition all of the schools meet together to look at each-others work. The Mayor of Camden even comes along !! 

In the Spring term the second half of the project gets underway. Beginning with a visit to Waterlow Park to observe the seasonal changes of the park and their adopted tree, the children then create a piece of High Art, a tree dressing, or a piece of Low Art, something for the ground like a mosaic. The final Summer Exhibition is always a fun-packed day of activities. Children in the past have done pavement drawings, watched bird of prey displays and even met wolves! 

The project is now in its 7th. year and local residents have grown used to the sight of 30ft. snakes, Hindu Gods or Egyptian pyramids adorning the trees. Tree Dressing projects are a wonderful way of teaching children about their local environment and the possibilities are endless!!! 

Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate Hill, London, N6 5HG, +44(0)20 8348 8716 

Nearest Tube Archway. Buses 271, W5, 143, 210

Read more about Tree Dressing Day or look at activities at Burnham Beeches