A TREE OF ENCHANTMENT
06 Sep 2018
Sacred Heart Primary School in Brisbane wanted to create an enchanted haven for their school library. Natureworks transformed the space into a world of natural wonder where the children can read and be captured by their imaginations.
Curtain Strangler Fig Cubby | 3m(h)-5m(w)
Natureworks was commissioned to create a magical haven for storytelling with a quiet ‘cubby’ space inside the tree for the children to read or use an interactive iPad for educational purposes. The team constructed an artificial strangler fig tree with an internal magical cubby space. A similar tree was recently completed by Natureworks for the Queens Park Interpretive Centre in Ipswich, Brisbane.
Natureworks blended the necessary guidelines and safety requirements with artistic flare and innovation to fulfil the school’s desire to create a place that would capture the children’s interests for the wonders of the natural world.
The tree includes carefully mounted native creatures that provide surprises and a sense of discovery.
Aboriginal totems (the green tree frog, brown snake and the sand goanna) found within the Ipswich area were thoughtfully included in the collection of native fauna. A kookaburra and a masked owl perch on the tree branches and 20 assorted frogs, lizards, insects and butterflies peek out from various nooks and crannies.
Realistic moss and bark effects cover the tree trunk, while the addition of epiphytes, mushrooms, foliage and aerial roots add an extra layer of realism. Bracket fungi seats were moulded into the extended buttress roots, providing seating.
The complete tree stands at 5 metres high and needed to be made into ten separate fibreglass sections in order to fit through the access doors. The final tree looks spectacular and both the principal and staff are delighted with the finish, and of course, the children absolutely love it!