Weathering, Wildlife, and the Beauty of Natural Oak
Our collaborative project Haven at Southbank Centre will be in bloom for its third year this summer. We are delighted that the Southbank Centre have now extended the project to be in place until September 2027.
Maeve and I (Eleanor) revisited Haven last week to do the annual spring cut.
Weathering, Wildlife, and the Beauty of Natural Oak
We recently visited our work at Southbank Centre, now in its second winter, and were struck by how beautifully the oak has weathered. The sculpture has taken on a rich silver-grey hue, blending seamlessly with the iconic brutalist architecture around it. It has truly become part of its environment, not just as an artwork but as a living element of the landscape, offering habitat and shelter for wildlife.
Discovering Unexpected Beauty in Decay
When we initially carved one of the nesting pods, we discovered an area of rot inside the oak. Instead of cutting it away, we chose to embrace this natural feature and place the nest entrance within it. The soft, decayed wood provides an excellent habitat for insects, supporting biodiversity within the sculpture itself. Over time, this has become one of our favourite aspects of the work. The tannins in this area remain rich, meaning the wood here has a deeper, more striking colour, contrasting beautifully with the surrounding silvered oak.
Maeve writes “The silvering oak now tones in with the iconic brutalist architecture of the Southbank which also owes much of it’s construction to wood, in the wooden shuttering that the concrete was originally poured into. Architectural and urban historian Dr Otto Saumarez Smith explains: ‘The concrete was poured into moulds of Baltic pine, reproducing the rough grain of the wood, a technically demanding process: the building has been described as a wooden building, but cast in concrete.’”
A Meadow in Bloom
During our visit, we also carried out the winter cut of the meadow, which surrounds the sculpture. This essential step helps keep the meadow healthy, encouraging new growth in the months ahead. We also took the opportunity to plant additional wildflower seeds, introducing more colour and diversity to the site. As spring arrives, we look forward to seeing the space transform, bursting into bloom and providing food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife.
Maeve and I (Eleanor) planting foxgloves and teasels into the meadow turf – you can see a self-seeded Apple tree.
Why We Use Oak (and Why We Don’t Varnish It)
Oak is an exceptional material for outdoor sculpture, and we embrace its natural properties. It is naturally resistant to rot and insects, making it highly durable and well-suited for long-term outdoor exposure. Wood isn’t static; even after carving, it continues to shift, crack, and breathe. These natural movements create small openings and cavities, providing shelter for insects and birds and enriching the sculpture as a living habitat. Instead of applying varnish, we allow the oak to weather naturally. Varnish can trap moisture, which may lead to damage over time. By leaving the wood untreated, it develops a stunning silver-grey patina that blends harmoniously with its surroundings, enhancing its character and allowing it to evolve with the landscape.
Art That Grows with Nature
This sculpture was never meant to be a fixed, unchanging object. Instead, it was designed to evolve with the landscape, shifting with the seasons and becoming a home for wildlife. Watching it settle into its environment at Southbank Centre—both structurally and ecologically—has been a rewarding process.
We can’t wait to see how the wildflowers bloom this spring, adding another layer of life to the space and are looking forward to seeing what wildlife will visit Haven this summer as its habitats continue to develop and evolve. If you visit Haven this year please do keep us posted on what you observe via our social media @maevepolkinhorn @denmangould @southbankcentre
