Artist Plants 365 Trees for Century-Long Living Art Installation

Renowned British artist Luke Jerram is taking the long view with his latest creation—a living art installation that won’t reach maturity until long after he’s gone. The artist, famous for his massive sculptural works including the seven-meter “Museum of the Moon” and the global “Play Me I’m Yours” piano project, has planted 365 native British trees in Somerset for a ambitious century-spanning project called Echo Wood.

Unlike his previous installations that can be experienced immediately, Echo Wood represents a fundamental shift toward environmental art that unfolds across generations. Jerram, who humorously suggests the project might stem from a midlife crisis, has embraced the philosophical challenge of creating something he’ll never see in its full glory. The 365 trees—one for each day of the year—will slowly transform the Somerset landscape over the coming decades.

The project highlights a growing movement in environmental art where artists work directly with natural systems rather than simply depicting them. By choosing native British species, Jerram ensures the installation will support local ecosystems while serving as both artwork and habitat. The trees will mature, evolve, and eventually die according to their own natural cycles, making this perhaps the artist’s most dynamic and unpredictable work yet.

Echo Wood challenges traditional notions of artistic legacy and immediate gratification, asking viewers to consider art as a long-term investment in both cultural and environmental heritage. For Jerram, the project represents a unique form of optimism—planting for a future he won’t see but trusts others will value.