#12 Bee Tree (part 1 ) Sycamore

 

 

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 I recently met conservationist Mick Verspuij in Buncranna, Donegal, Ireland . He makes natural habitats for bee hives using old dead tree trunks . Here he talks about pollen and the Sycamore Tree in his yard. He has a few tree stories for the Memory Palace of Trees Stories. 

A sycamore tree, a semi mature or a mature tree can produce up to half a million flowers , so it’s a crucial crop for the honey bees because it is quite early in the season as well. And it’s all around the time where the colony really needs it most because they are expanding their in numbers very rapidly . By having just one of those trees on the ground , the same match as half an acre of wild flowers, which is actually surprisingly good because as it only takes up a tiny bit of space , it is brilliant for the bees.

At the end of May start of June , it’s an ideal time because they bring in so much . Once that tree goes to flower its like someone has just switched on a hairdryer inside the tree because the noise it makes is phenomenal , it just hums for two solid weeks , the bees make sure they collect all the pollen from it and all the nectar .

 

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Open Call for your tree story on video

Memory Palace of Trees is socio- ecological art practice which invites your participation to tell a story (or give some kind of information) about trees. It is a social enquiry of how to live better with the planet and with people by sharing tree stories.

Memory Palace of Trees will continue throughout 2022. The submissions are video format. If you have a story you can tell in less than a minute , please find your favorite tree and video yourself on your phone telling the story. I can help with adding the English or Chinese subtitles. Please ensure the sound quality of your recording is clear as possible . If you have any questions about this please ask . Also, If you are in Beijing I can meet up with you and assist in the filming .

Looking forward to hearing from you.I can be contacted directly on this platform.

 

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Video 1Empty Tendrils by Yvette Stride

Video 2Pomegranate Tree by Han Chao

Video 3Trees are Like Humans by Jenny Hong

Video 4Old Ash A real survivor by Gillian Cussen

Video 5Tree Rings of Life by Wang Ligeng

Video 6A very Weird Elf by Zhu Jinghua

Video 7Old Crabapple of Wenhua Dian by Matthew Hu

Video 8:   Standing Fast by Joseph Stewart 

Video 9:  Feeling Good  – Tree Song  by Nam

Video 10:  Forest Breath   Niamh Cunningham 

Video 11: Protective Peach – Ayse Emel Gümüs

I am currently gathering tree stories in the format of one minute videos but in  January 2020 I collected stories in written format .

Most of these are personal stories.  Submissions came from a range of different people in the US, Europe, Australia and Asia including a children’s writer, poets, dendrologists, artists, a dancer, a forester, an ant forest app user, photographers, academics and more. 

See further down this page for these links. 

Gingko Palace  Sucrose Series 83 x 120 cm print on Aluminium  Niamh Cunningham 2020 (week 15)

 

The Second Beech  Niamh Cunningham 倪芙瑞莲2020 (week 17 of the Memory Palace of Trees)

Throughout 2020 different peoples tree stories were gathered from various people writers , artists, foresters , poets, and other people .

Ice Willow , Sucrose 8.7.2020 Print on Aluminium , Niamh Cunningham -Kosimas Willow Story 

Memory Palace of Tree Stories began in January 2020. Throughout 2020 different peoples tree stories were gathered from various people writers , artists, foresters , poets, and other people .

Chestnut – Park Tree Sucrose Series original Sucrose 50 x 50 cm  Niamh Cunningham 2020 (week 12)

 

Open Call for your tree story on video 

Memory Palace of Trees will continue in 2022. This year the submissions will be in video format. If you have a story you can tell in less than a minute (less than 60 seconds), please  find your favorite tree sit under it and video yourself  on your phone telling the story. I can help with the editing and add the English or Chinese subtitles.  Please ensure the sound quality of your recording is clear.  If you are in Beijing I can come and video you if you wish. Please ask if you have any questions about this. 

Looking forward to hearing from you.  Please email me at niamh@niamhcunningham.com

 

 

Jinan Tree Song  Sucrose Series, print on aluminium 158 x 120cm  Niamh Cunningham 2020

 

Here is a one minute video clip  for the November  2020 tree story . 

Ladybird of DongXiaokou (6 min 40 secs) video Niamh Cunningham 2020   Dancer: Zhang Yi , Music Credit: Ciorras