Frome Community Woodland: Rewriting Somerset’s Landscape | Guardian Country Diary
The act of naming places is a deeply human one, a way of laying claim to landscape and imbuing it with memory. But what happens when those names, those stories, are overwritten? A small corner of Somerset, England, is currently undergoing just such a transformation, trading a local, if somewhat indelicate, moniker for a tribute to a life cut short.
For years, a banana-shaped paddock near Frome was known locally as “bitey horse field,” a testament to the spirited, and occasionally painful, encounters with a particularly assertive stallion. The field’s previous resident, a fly-grazing horse with a penchant for nipping, has moved on, and with it, the need for the somewhat alarming name. Now, thanks to a proactive town council and a successful crowdfunding campaign, the land is being reimagined as the Frome Community Woodland.
The transformation isn’t merely about replacing a name; it’s about layering a new story onto the existing landscape. The project is a memorial to Moko Sellars, a young Japanese-British woman who became a beloved member of the community. Sellars’ passing prompted an outpouring of grief and a desire to create something lasting in her memory. The woodland, funded by community donations, represents that desire.
The process of creating the woodland is a collaborative one. Volunteers are partnering each bamboo stake – marking the spot for a new tree – with a sapling. The planting is carefully considered, with species chosen to suit the terrain. Those planting along the riverside complete of the “banana” are focusing on trees that thrive in wetter conditions – pussy willow, black poplar, and alder – although higher ground will host oak, hornbeam, and field maple. It’s a practical approach, informed by the land itself.
The scale of the project is significant. Six hundred people are involved in the planting, a testament to the community’s commitment. An oval clearing is being created within the woodland, envisioned as a future play space for generations to reach. The act of planting isn’t just about creating a wood; it’s about cultivating hope and a sense of continuity.
The council’s choice of “Frome Community Woodland” as a name is, although, provisional. The community itself will ultimately decide if the name sticks, a democratic gesture that underscores the project’s collaborative spirit. It’s a recognition that while the intention is to overwrite an old story with a new one, the process should be inclusive and reflective of the people who will inhabit and enjoy the space.
This small patch of Somerset exemplifies a broader trend: the re-evaluation of place names and the stories they tell. As the article in Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian’s Country Diary, 2018-2024 points out, Britain’s landscape is “storied,” filled with names and memories often belonging to forgotten individuals. The Frome Community Woodland project isn’t just about planting trees; it’s about acknowledging the past while actively shaping the future, and about the power of collective memory to transform a landscape.
The project also highlights the increasing role of local councils in community-led initiatives. The proactive approach of the Frome town council, securing a 99-year lease on the land and facilitating the crowdfunding campaign, demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. This willingness to embrace and support grassroots projects is becoming increasingly critical as communities seek to seize ownership of their local spaces.
the Frome Community Woodland is more than just a new woodland; it’s a symbol of remembrance, renewal, and the enduring power of community. It’s a place where a somewhat ignominious past – a field defined by a “bitey horse” – is being transformed into a space of beauty, tranquility, and lasting tribute. And it’s a reminder that even the most humble landscapes hold within them layers of stories, waiting to be told, remembered, and, sometimes, rewritten.