NightForest Stories
We Are the NightForest
We are the NightForest
we listen closely for the stories
hanging from our branches
hopping through our underbrush
rooting beneath your feet
filled with surprising cherry trees
I am a cherry tree
though I have never held fruit
hidden, concealed, waiting
until the sun urged me to shoot
throwing my cherries at that farmer
made us both fuzzy + happy
I am fuzzy + happy
most people + things here will change
glitter will stay the same
autumn is and will
always be autumn
I am autumn
I represent change
a bittersweet end to the summer
like grandad
I am my grandfather
who introduced me to so many things that shaped my life
architecture, design, drawing
which ultimately led to meeting so many great people
he also showed me how to use salt to clean silver
I am colour, vibrancy, and a dash of silver
a taste of the NightForest
We are the NightForest
we are the movers and shakers
we are the groovers and makers
we are this moment, this place, the forest
I am the forest
a thousand shades of green
many visit me when their lives become too rooted in the city
to rediscover their individuality
I am rediscovering my individuality
and reminding myself that I am not a rock
even though I am unclean + unclear
I am unclean
unclear of the future
fostered in a creative community
I am part of a collective, enjoying community & creativity
♥a man who can name every man made product
I am a man who can name every man made product
but can not name a single plant
I need some time with nature
to get the feeling back
I am mesh + veins
sought art texture
to get the feeling back
the sensation of sun…
I am the sun
through the cracks of the forest
I am the warmth on your face
that radiates life
the creatures that tickle the earth
in the NightForest
We are the NightForest
we grow past city fringes
and are never lost
always found
ever present
you can find us
by following the trails of life
I am trails of life
I am trails of nature
honouring the colours of my life
as it happens through time
I look up and then inside
I can feel it all around me
nature crystalised in creativity
I am nature crystalised in creativity
a remembrance of the senses
from our last universal common ancestor [LUCA]
billions of years of life
through to the brightest memories
of my childhood discoveries
I am my childhood discoveries
I have so many memories of nature
I remember the bouncy tree
I am the bouncy tree
I have lived in Cairn Wood for hundreds of years
even though I am old
and my branches are a bit worse for wear
I’m sure I’d have a class time
with my tree friends in the NightForest
We are the NightForest…
Authors
A collaborative place-based story from the NightForest, crafterd in Greater Manchester, on Saturday 27 July 2024 between 14:30 and 18:00 BST, by Anand M, Charlotte C, Daisy H, Frankie B, Harry T, Jess W, Lotte D, Louis O, Rob W, Rory M, Stan Skinny, Stef L, Tom Y, Trees R Good and the more-than-human movers, shakers, groovers, makers and vibrant matterings of NightGarden 2024.
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WE ARE THE NIGHT
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WE ARE THE FOREST
• WE ARE THE NIGHT • WE ARE THE FOREST
For a moment, we allowed ourselves to fully being part of the NightForest. We investigated the more-than-human connections in and with the forest and gardens at the NightGarden Festival, using our bodies, personal stories, and collaborative place explorations. During and after each exercise, we recorded our responses. We Are the Night Forest is the story we uncovered.