Guardian of the Gateway: Beauly Wych Elm Celebration

Circus Artspace are working in collaboration with Highland artist Isabel McLeish to celebrate the ancient Wych Elm tree at Beauly Priory – which is nearly 800 years old and believed to be the oldest Wych Elm in Europe. Sadly, the tree is dying of Dutch Elm Disease and it had its last buds in 2021.

This event will bring together the local community with artists, writers and partnership organisations to discover, celebrate and share their own stories and research about the Wych Elm.

The celebration will feature the first reading of a new commissioned story from Highland writer Mandy Haggith, as well as invited tree health experts Phil Baarda (NatureScot) and Max Coleman (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh). Some of the stories created in response to the tree, collected through Circus Artspace’s recent open call, will also be showcased. Plus there will be tree-inspired food and family art activities with artist Sadie Stoddart.

Circus Artspace is a collective of practising, professional artists committed to making contemporary art accessible to a broader Highland audience.