Barnes Village is often referred to in the media as ‘leafy’ because it is surrounded by extensive green woodland and incredibly rich biodiversity.

Inspired by the natural beauty and vitality of the trees and woodland on their doorstep, local artist group Barnes Artists and the local branch of London Independent Photography have joined together to highlight the award-winning conservation management group Barnes Common at its third annual summer show at St Mary’s Church.

Katie James, co-founder of Barnes Artists said: “Barnes is a wonderful haven of peace and tranquillity thanks to the conservation efforts of Barnes Common. The whole community owes them a huge debt for their unflinching work in protecting our unique environment.”

This year’s show Living With Trees will be curated by established West End gallery Panter & Hall, who are also guest exhibitors.

Barnes Common

Mike Hildesley, Chair of Barnes Common, said ‘We are delighted to extend our links with Barnes Artists in this year’s exhibition, so wonderfully demonstrating the inspiration that artists derive from nature and that we as conservationists derive from art.

Barnes Common (Queen’s Award, Common of the Year and London in Bloom) look after more than 4,000 maturing trees on Barnes Common. The woodland management plan protects older and rarer trees, promotes a healthier broadleaf woodland habitat, with traditional coppicing, pollarding, thinning, haloing and hedging.
Wood from Barnes Common is used for art, crafts and conservation purposes – such as board walks and improving nearby Beverley Brook – as well as providing essential dead wood habitat.

Panter & Hall

Panter & Hall Gallery is based in Pall Mall SW1 and Cecil Court, WC2. The gallery was established 23 years ago by Tiffany Panter and Matthew Hall and after more than 300 exhibitions and over a hundred art fairs they have forged a solid reputation for dealing in art and artists of talent and value.

Artwork: Suffolk Winter Lane by Heather MacKinlay