Rooted in Nature, Connected by Creativity
Coed Coexist began with an act of nature...
In January 2024 a winter storm brought down a large beech tree in the grounds of Plas Glyn-y-Weddw. The tree had stood for an estimated 150 - 200 years, shaped by the coastal winds and weather of the Llŷn Peninsula.
Local woodworker John Egan and metal artist Junko Mori saw the fallen tree not simply as timber, but as a material with a story still to tell. From this moment, and in collaboration and partnership with Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, the idea for Coed Coexist emerged – a project that draws our attention to woodland ecosystems while connecting community, creativity and environmental stewardship.
The beech tree became the centre of the project. The trunk was milled into planks, branches and even the smallest offcuts and sawdust were retained, with some material turned into charcoal. The aim was to honour the life of the tree by using as much of it as possible.
In September 2024, a symposium brought together artists, land managers, environmental specialists and the local community to explore woodland ecology, craft traditions and sustainable materials.
Following this, more than eighty artists and makers from the Llŷn Peninsula, across Wales and beyond received pieces of the Plas Glyn-Y-Weddw beech from John and Junko’s workshop. Each with a fragment of the same tree, began a different creative journey. The resulting works – including furniture, sculpture, vessels, drawing, music and writing – reflect the maker’s individual response, while sharing a common origin.
The project cultivated cultural exchanges between Wales and Japan, thanks to funding support from Wales Arts International. Welsh beech travelled to northern Japan, where members of the Indigenous Ainu carved traditional objects from the wood, highlighting shared relationships with forests and materials. Partnerships with the Mt Fuji Wood Culture Society led to artist residencies in both countries, supporting skill-sharing and deepening connections between craft traditions and respect for nature. The Afan Woodland Trust in Nagano also shared the legacy animation film of Welsh Japanese writer, C.W.Nicol, translated here into Welsh by pupils from Pen Llŷn.
Alongside this international exchange, Coed Coexist supported artists across Wales through initiatives such as the Young Maker Award and five creative commissions.
Coed Coexist shows how one tree, rooted in the landscape of the Llŷn Peninsula, can continue to grow through imagination and shared creativity.
The sculptor, David Nash said,
“Trees take just enough, but give back much more...”
This has become the embodiment of Coed Coexist.
The Coed Coexist project has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wales Arts International, Arts Council of Wales, Welsh Government, The National Lottery, Denise Coates Foundation, John Egan and Junko Mori, Gwynedd Council and Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, whose commitment to arts, culture and the environment has helped bring this project to life.
