An image of giant child’s eye made of trees is being created in North Yorkshire.
Forest Eye is being planted in Dalby Forest near Pickering from 5,000 beech, maple and alder trees and will be 300 metres (984ft) wide when it is complete.
Local school children began the planting this week for what is destined to be the biggest planted forest feature in the country, Forestry England said.
The installation will be visible on Google Earth when it is grown in about six years’ time, and it should be in place for more than 100 years.
The project is aimed at focusing attention on climate change and showing the role of forests in tackling it.
Forest Eye is being created by installation specialists Sand In Your Eye, in partnership with Forestry England and the Environment Agency.
Sand In Your Eye’s Jamie Wardley said: “This really is about inspiration. It’s about changing.
“The children here today are the generation that’s going to be affected by climate change.
“So it’s really important to really engage with them and show them that the problem can be stopped but it’s got to be dramatic change.”
Mr Wardley added: “We’re planning to do a whole forest of humanity with a giant face looking to space, inspiring the world.
“And the eye is the beginning of that.
“The eye is the eye of a child looking out to the world, looking at how we’re going to deal with climate change.”
Fantastic idea
Alan Eaves from Forestry England said the eye comprises a mixture of trees selected to be climate resilient in the years to come.
Mr Eaves said: “It’s all about having a conversation about climate change and the devastation of biodiversity and creating resilient forests.
“It’s all about engaging with people.”
Trending
He said: “It’s not just art for art’s sake – although there’s nothing wrong with that.
“All of the works engage with the environment, the place.”
Mr Eaves added: “That’s why it’s so important engage with children because they are going to be ones who are going to have to deal things in the future.
“It’s a fantastic idea – a child’s eye looking out, looking out at what we’re doing for the future.”