Discover our innovative arts programme in a forest near you
Woodlands and forests are vital places for artists to engage with, to make and present new work. Since 1968 the nation’s forests have played host to a wide range of artworks and art forms.
Our programme supports artists, architects and designers to develop innovative ideas.
Contemporary arts in our forests include installations, trails, exhibitions and live performances. Explore the artworks and discover how the forest can shape our thinking. Find out more about the projects in our forests below.
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Keep up to date with our latest events, exhibitions and opportunities as well as inspiring stories and exclusive giveaways.
We the Forest book
Accompanied by specially commissioned illustrations, We the Forest draws on detailed Forestry England research and resources to bring to life the complexity of the forest ecosystem to young readers.
Discover the magic of forests in our stunning new book.
Earth Photo
Created in 2018 by Forestry England, the Royal Geographical Society and Parker Harris, Earth Photo is a world-leading programme in its 8th year, engaging with still and moving image makers to showcase the issues affecting the climate and life on our planet.
The Earth Photo 2025 winners have been chosen. Congratulations to overall winner Lorenzo Poli for Autophagy.
A selection of the shortlisted images from 2025 entries will be on display at six of our forests between summer 2025 and spring 2026.
A Room That Sings: A new immersive art installation coming soon to Dalby Forest
Dalby Forest has unveiled it's latest immersive art installation, A Room That Sings, created by renowned multimedia artist Nayan Kulkarni, with material created by artist Jez riley-French.
Since 2021, Nayan Kulkarni has been recording the forest’s diverse sounds, capturing noises from unexpected places — inside trees, fences, ant nests, and streams. These unique elements are woven into a soundscape that evolves over time. The composition reflects the organic rhythms of Dalby Forest, mixing real-world sounds with electronic elements.
Visitors are invited to step into A Room That Sings and immerse themselves into the Forest in a new way, offering a peaceful and thought-provoking retreat. The striking structure is made from Douglas Fir.
Designed by Kulkarni and funded by Arts Council England.
See Here Now exhibition
PLACE Collective artists addressed the theme ‘Art in a Time of Urgency’ at an exhibition at Grizedale Forest in June 2025. How are artists responding to local and global climate and nature crises? What does their work bring into focus, which absences does it highlight, whose voices are brought in? These and other questions were addressed through artwork in a range of media, offering both beauty and concern, attitudes of slowness as well as urgency. Some artists brought new work to the show, others exhibited work that had emerged from recent projects.
To find out more about the artists that exhibited view the PLACE Collective webpage.
