Ash to Ash, White Horse Wood. Photo: John Miller

Ash to Ash, White Horse Wood. Photo: John Miller

A lasting legacy
for the ash tree

There are 150 million ash trees in England, Scotland and Wales. Ash dieback is widely accepted to be untreatable and could see the demise of 90-98% of these trees over the next decade. The Ash Project is an urgent cultural response to the devastating effects of ash dieback in the Kent Downs.

“Most people wouldn’t know an ash tree if it fell on their heads… better prepare yourselves”
— Jack Dee

Ash to Ash, Ackroyd & Harvey, 2018 (detail)

The sculpture

The ash sculpture was sadly felled by Storm Eunice in February 2022 and is visible but no longer standing.

What’s Happened

The Ash Project was a two year programme of events and activity that took place between 2017–2018. Watch our short video or find out more about what we did.

Critical Issue

The effects of ash dieback in the Kent Downs

Ash dieback is happening now

Ash dieback is widely accepted as being untreatable and could see the demise of over 140 million ash trees in the next decade. Since it was discovered in England in 2012 it has spread rapidly, decimating ash trees in English woodland.

Discover more

Devastation or adaptation?

What’s the future for ash?

  1. Ash is the most common tree in the Kent Downs. It shapes our landscapes across fields and hedgerow, woodlands and city streets.
  2. With it’s light weight versatility ash was the main wood used in early car manufacturing. It formed the frame of early models of the iconic Routemaster bus, Jaguar car and the “Wooden Wonder” Mosquito planes.
  3. Ash trees have been part of our cultural landscape for centuries. While intrinsic to our everyday lives, the ash tree often goes unnoticed.