15/10/2026
We have designed a narrative-driven bench for the Silk Wood Community Planting Project at Westonbirt Arboretum, created in collaboration with Ed Brooks Furniture and illustrator Mark Ruffle.
The bench sits at the centre of a new woodland where over 9,000 trees have been planted to replace canopy lost to Ash Dieback. Crafted from a fallen Westonbirt Oak, the bench surrounds a young Wild Service tree. Its design reflects the landscape’s history: root-like ‘nibs’ form the outer structure, while internal timber slats mirror the growth rings of the lost ash trees.
At the end of the nibs, a series of ‘storyboard stumps’ act as narrative chapters. The etched illustrations on these stumps were co-created through a workshop with project volunteers, turning the seating into a physical archive of community action and woodland regeneration.
Full project details can now be found standandstare.com.
Mark Ruffle Bespoke Outdoor Garden Furniture. Westonbirt Arboretum
