When This Tree Blossoms...

When This Tree Blossoms… began in 2018 as part of a national project exploring how we can envision positive futures in response to climate and environmental change. 

The first event took place when the artists Frank Abbott and Rachel Jacobs followed the blossoming of the cherry trees in Christ Church Gardens across the road from their studios at Primary. They made a short video message inviting people online to watch the blossom and join them when it was agreed the trees had blossomed. By pointing a webcam on the trees they enabled a debate online as people from around the world speculated on the time of blossoming. Local people met together on Sunday 22nd April under the trees, when they were in full blossom, to talk about the future. 

The project has continued, with the annual invitation: ‘when this tree blossoms we will meet here to talk about the future.’ Each year, the event and conversation has been affected by global and local events, including seasonal changes and the Covid-19 pandemic.

You can read about When This Tree Blossoms 2021 events and outcomes here.

This project has been developed by Rachel Jacobs and Frank Abbott, alongside Rachel’s growing research and development for ‘The Future Machine: Creating Rituals For When the Future Comes’ .

Community events supported by Nottingham City Council