The Felled Areas Have Been Replanted: A History of Chopwell Wood

May 2021

Chopwell Wood, UK

Chopwell Wood is a fascinating 900-acre forest that represents thousands of years of human industrial, cultural, and ecological use. For centuries trees were harvested for ships, churches, and tanning hides. Coal was mined from the early thirteenth century until 1966. Recreation is now the main industry in the wood. Except in a few small locations, only the footprint and geological features of the ancient forest remain. Chopwell Wood is a human built landscape—one that has been cut down and replanted multiple times.

The Felled Areas Have Been Replanted is a geo-located audio walk in the woods. During our research we came across the "History of Chopwell Forest" written by the Forestry Commission in 1951. The history is quite amazing as it seems to capture the birth of Chopwell Wood as it is known today. We hired our good friend Gemma Paintin (who makes work under the moniker Action Hero) to read the history for us. It is really lovely. We invite residents of the North East to wander through the woods. What traces of this history can you see or experience around you today?

You can find and listen to the walk here.