'Forever Home' art at Fountains Abbey highlights climate change

Artist Richard Woods has installed Forever Home, depicting an upturned house, in the River Skell at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal to highlight the risks of flooding to UK properties.

The National Trust teamed up with the artist and The Climate Coalition (TCC) to create the installation and raise awareness of the growing threat that climate change poses.

The TCC commissioned the piece to mark the end of Great Big Green Week as it calls on government to deliver a clear plan to limit a rise in temperatures and to stop floods, heatwaves and droughts getting worse.

Woods is best known for his architectural installations characterised by cartoon-like decorative surfaces, bold patterns and vibrant colours.

He said: “I’ve always incorporated sustainability into my work, whether it’s the wood I’m using or the inspiration for the piece, it’s at the centre of everything my team and I create.

"This piece sits in such a beautiful landscape at Fountains Abbey, I hope it makes people stop and think about what will happen to these places if we don’t take immediate action to slow down the impact of climate change.”

Fiona Dear, head of campaigns at The Climate Coalition, said: “We want Forever Home to inspire action and hope that, through this and the tens of thousands of people coming together for Great Big Green Week, a clear message is sent to the Prime Minister ahead of the United Nations COP26 climate talks in November: we care about nature and climate change, and we need your Government to deliver a clear plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions to limit global heating and stop floods, heatwaves and droughts getting even worse.”

Patrick Begg, Outdoor and Natural Resources Director at the National Trust, said: “The big flood events we’ve witnessed over the past few years in Cumbria, Yorkshire and the Southeast, underline the growing risk from climate change to the places we love the most – from the homes we live in, to the heritage we treasure.

"We’re seeing a stark increase in the amount of our own properties at risk of flooding.

“We’re now working with communities to prepare for these impacts – with measures including slowing the flow of water in flood-prone river valleys and preparing our places, collections, staff and volunteers for the increased heat and humidity.

"However, greater investment and urgency is needed from the Government, so we support The Climate Coalition’s call for a once-in-a-generation commitment to climate action in the Autumn Spending Review ahead of COP26.”