Note: A selection of the images from this project are available to through Nathan's shop as a greeting card or piece of wall art.

The UK hosted the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) between 31st October-12th November 2021. COP26 brought together 120 world leaders and over 40,000 registered participants for a two week event to debate everything about climate change, including the emission of greenhouse gases such as Methane and the pledge to halt deforestation by 2030. 

 During COP26, 137 countries agreed to channel some of their efforts into reversing the loss of our forests and degradation by 2030; a pledge which is backed by £12 billion in public funding and £7.2 million in private funding. 103 countries also signed the Global Methane Pledge to reduce Methane by 30% by 2030. 

On one hand we have those which are in public and political view, on the other hand others are not as visible, they are hidden, unseen in the latest articles about woodland management practices and leaflets which market the efforts of conservation charities to restore equilibrium to the natural environment.

The lack of visibility of some of these already scarce spaces means the rise in disease (acute oak decline, Ask Dibeck, Dutch Elm Disease) and pollution has left the growth, biodiversity and structural integrity of these unseen forests extremely vulnerable and at risk of further decline.

According to a recent investigation by the Woodland Trust, titled The State of UK’s Woods and Trees 2021, it is estimated only 7% of native woodlands are in ‘good ecological condition’ leaving many isolated and in poor ecological condition. 93% of the UK’s native woodland area is in poor ecological condition.

The key findings of the investigation reveal existing native woodlands are isolated and in poor ecological condition and woods and trees are subject to a barrage of coinciding threats, from direct loss to more insidious influences such as climate impacts, imported diseases, invasive plants, mammal browsing and air pollutants. 

The focus of The Forgotten Wilderness is on a piece of unmanaged woodland space located on the outskirts of the Harlow border in Essex, UK. The project explores issues related to woodland conservation, such as poor woodland management and invasive species in the space depicted, two of the main factors which contribute hugely to the ongoing climate crisis in the UK.

Invasive species doesn’t just refer to insects and wildlife outside of the UK which try to establish themselves in the woodland, it also points to the trees (varying in age and size, are beautiful and crucial to the health of society) which can try to outcompete for space, light and nutrients across the land if not managed properly.

The pictures also represent the stark reality, the inconsistent and irregular level of awareness of woodland and environmental awareness amongst people in the UK, the contrast between public awareness, woodland visibility and political unrest.

The woodland depicted is jointly owned by Harlow Council and Epping Forest council.

A small ditch of groundwater is what separates the area of the unmanaged woodland which is owned by Harlow Council and piece of land which is owned by Epping Forest Council.