London, UK

Southbank Centre - Natura Nostra Forest

Giving nature a chance to thrive within the brutalist architecture of London's Southbank Centre.

Located within the iconic Southbank Centre's complex and in connection with Hayward Gallery, this unique project will restore a pocket of native British ecosystem in the heart of London, supporting the wellbeing of both people and planet.

Set to be planted in conjunction with the Hayward Gallery’s international group exhibition ‘Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis’, our pocket forest aligns with the aims of the exhibition by attempting to inspire a deeper emotional connection to nature through rewilding its urban surroundings.

Within a chaotic concrete jungle, the forest will be a restorative and awe-inspiring space for the millions of people who visit London’s Southbank each year.

Forest Maker James Godfrey-Faussett

390

TREES

130

SQUARE METERS

NATIVE SPECIES

The site of Natura Nosta Forest - Southbank in London, UK

The Pocket Forest planted

Forest Partners

SUGi Pocket Forest visualisation at 10 years

“We’re delighted to be partnering with SUGi on this inspiring project, which represents an important step in Southbank Centre’s ongoing plans to green the site, and which launches alongside a summer 2023 programme at the Hayward Gallery and across Southbank Centre devoted to artists who are responding to the climate emergency, and promoting an ethic of engaged care.”

— Ralph Rugoff, Director, Hayward Gallery

Forest Report: Planting

DATE: 11.05.2023

Forest Design

Southbank Pocket Forest will be fully accessible to the public and situated on a 130 Sq m ground-level terrace where it will rewild the celebrated brutalist architecture of the area.

The forest will instigate a conversation between the concrete surroundings and Nature, restoring the sights and sounds of the natural world in a place that celebrates the wonders of human creativity.