George Harrison Woodland Walk in Liverpool announced

The George Harrison Estate and Liverpool City Council have announced plans for a new memorial woodland in Liverpool.

The announcement was made on what would have been Harrison’s 77th birthday.

The proposed site is the 12-acre Greenland site opposite Allerton Towers, currently a mixture of woodland and meadow. The memorial woodland is set to open in 2021 and will feature art tributes to the former Beatle. There will also be a ‘nature classroom’ to help children from the region learn about nature and the environment.

Harrison was a keen gardener who enjoyed tending to the grounds at Friar Park, his mansion in Henley-on-Thames, England.

George was an avid gardener who found solace and joy in being in the outdoors. I don’t think there is any better way to commemorate him in Liverpool than with a garden which can become a place of tranquility and reflection for everyone.

I am really looking forward to watching it change and grow over the coming years.

Olivia Harrison

George Harrison

Liverpool City Council purchased the land, close to where Harrison was born and grew up, in 2018. Work on the gardens should take a year to complete, and will formally open to the public in spring 2021.

The council and Harrison estate are inviting expressions of interest from “artists, musicians, collectives, technologists and groups interested in creating a sculpture or installation” on the site.

The announcement continues:

When it officially opens in 2021, it will be landscaped in order to be accessible, combining garden and woodland with a number of artistic installations inspired by the life and lyrics of the much-loved Beatle.

The brief is broad.

We are open to work of any artform, as long as it delivers against the following criteria:

  • Is inspired by the work or life of George Harrison
  • Is suitable to be installed outdoor, within a woodland environment
  • Has minimal maintenance costs or requirements
  • Works alongside and supports the natural environment it will be positioned within, some areas of which are an official nature reserve

Timeline

  • 15 April Expression of interest need to be submitted – these should total no more than 300 words with a maximum of 3 supporting images to be provided outlining the proposed commission.
  • 1 May – Up to 10 artists to be requested to develop initial concepts into a formal, costed proposal. A small fee will be made available to support this development.
  • 5 June – Deadline for stage 2 submissions.
  • Judging to take place
  • By end of June – all phase 1 commissions to be confirmed
  • July – Feb 2021 – Creation
  • Feb / March 2021– Installation
  • March / April 2021 – Launch

If you would like to discuss the project in more detail or would like a briefing pack which includes more detailed information, please contact Culture Liverpool via email here.

Last updated: 12 January 2021
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