Elizabeth Woodger

This long-term project is an artistic experiment that examines lichens from my local woodlands and reimagines them as a symbol for global environmental change.

In the UK, ancient woodlands have been disappearing for centuries and today, temperate rainforests account for less than 1% of land cover. Sadly, the UK is now one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world but fragments of our ancient, wild landscapes do still exist. Many of the lichens growing in Exmoor’s fragmented woodlands are globally scarce, and some are important indicators of air quality and habitat biodiversity.

For several years, I’ve been gathering windfall lichens from ancient Exmoor woodlands and growing crystals along their delicate forms. I introduce the primordial conditions required for transformation to occur but I can’t control the eventual outcome. In this respect, my actions mimic the prevailing climate crisis where human actions are influencing geological processes with unpredictable consequences.

The photographs act as a visual portal into an enigmatic and futuristic ecosystem strewn with vibrant, prismatic crystals; the physical manifestation of humans acting as a geological driving force on our planet. The overall goal of this project is to emphasise the importance of restoring and reconnecting ancient, wilder landscapes in order to boost biodiversity, improve community wellbeing and enhance our climate resilience.

A special publication of this artwork was commissioned by Somerset Art Works in 2024 for their ‘Landscape – Flux and Flow’ festival with funding from Arts Council England. These exhibitions were delivered in partnership with the Holnicote Estate (National Trust) and Somerset Libraries.