A five-metre-long kayak, a guitar created from wood and concrete and an installation inspired by falling seeds, are at the heart of a new exhibition on ash at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh that highlights both the beauty and versatility of this native tree and the destructive effect of ash dieback disease (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus).

In a collective response to the threat, Ash Rise was established by the Scottish Furniture Makers Association, Scottish Forestry and the Association of Scottish Hardwood Sawmillers. They selected 20 furniture makers, designers and artists from across Scotland to produce works using wood from diseased trees felled in Killearn in Stirlingshire. These dazzling bespoke objects are now on display, raising public awareness of the threat to one of Scotland’s best loved trees while celebrating the potential of this magnificent species.

Amy Porteous, Producer of Creative Programmes at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh said: “Ash is one of our native hardwood trees, a fantastic resource and previously common across the UK, but our natural landscapes are now visibly and permanently changing as millions of trees succumb to the disease.

“However, there are seeds of hope. Despite initial fears that over 90 per cent of ash trees would be lost, it now seems that some individuals have natural resistance. As this genetic tolerance to the pathogen is passed down through the generations, there is now the possibility that long-term, the species will survive and recover.

“Until that happens, the exhibition shows how, despite the devastation wrought by the disease, ash has the potential to live on through the skill of Scotland’s makers, artists and designers.”

Tom Addy, Ash Rise project coordinator and furniture maker said:

"The native ash is one of our most precious resources here in Scotland and for Ash Rise we wanted to showcase the potential of what has been described as the Tree of Life. Acknowledging the impact of ash dieback led us to invite furniture makers, artists and designers to showcase the creative potential of a single ash tree. The results are not just a homage to the Scottish ash but an insight into the transformative power of furniture making and design to breathe new life into locally sourced materials. 

“The documentary film shown alongside the beautiful works on show in the exhibition aims to educate visitors on the value of working with locally sourced wood and highlight the impact of the disease and the work being done by Scottish Forestry to manage it."

Image: Tom Cooper and his Emergence Cabinet

From Tutankhamun’s chariot wheels to John McEnroe’s tennis racquets, ash has long been valued for its flexibility and strength and its stately form has graced our gardens, parks and countryside for centuries, providing a habitat for around 1,000 species including birds, mammals, invertebrates, plants and lichen.

The exhibition Ash Rise runs from September 13 to January 12 2025 in the Garden’s John Hope Gateway visitor centre on Arboretum Place before touring to other venues across Scotland. It is free to enter and open from 10am each day.

Main image: Helena Robson, photographed by Neil Hanna