The British Museum is set to transform into a medieval forest this summer with a new installation marking the countdown to the arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry. The embroidered masterpiece, illustrating the Norman Conquest of 1066, will return to Britain for the first time in 900 years and go on display at the museum in September.
Woodland Installation Unveiled
On May 16, the museum will unveil 'Tapestry of Trees,' a garden installation designed by Andy Sturgeon. Placed at the top of the museum's front steps, it replicates the natural world of 1066 with a canopy of 37 silver birch trees and planters filled with woodland grasses and perennials like Guelder Rose, Hazel, Dog Rose, Foxglove, and Male Fern.
Design and Inspiration
The planters and rootballs are enveloped in hessian dyed to match the blues, yellows, and reds of the tapestry, giving visitors a sense of the textile's original colors. Sturgeon said: 'The museum is a vast monochromatic monolith, and I wanted the installation to be colourful and uplifting, and to signify the welcoming of the tapestry to the museum. The trees reach out towards the street entrance as if beckoning it to enter.'
The installation marks the beginning of the museum's public programme tied to the tapestry and serves as a prelude to the Visitor Welcome Pavilions and gardens proposal set for 2027.
'Tapestry of Trees' will be on display from May 16 until June 2.
