A work in progress...

The Northcliffe Garden Gallery is an important aspect of the Southern Forest Arts vision for the future. This 'outdoor gallery' will compliment the two other main Southern Forest Arts attractions: Understory and the Painted Tree Gallery.

The Garden Gallery will function more like a traditional 'sculpture park', providing a landscaped setting, with forest backdrop, for artists to exhibit sculptures. Unlike artworks commissioned especially for Understory, however, the Garden Gallery works will be for sale and not necessarily be 'site specific'.

The Garden Gallery is located in the grounds of the Northcliffe Information and Visitor Centre adjacent to the Understory trailhead and the Northcliffe Visitor Centre. It covers approximately one acre in area.

The garden is primarily planted with species endemic to the Southern Forests region, and showcases the beauty and resiliance of native flora. The long term plan includes the collection and sale of seeds to visitors, encouraging awareness of South West plant species as sustainable alternatives for home and business gardens. Further plants will be added over the next five years, with the majority of current plants only installed in mid 2009.

The Garden Gallery currently consists of a very basic trail, with no designated display areas. Funding will be sourced over the next 12-18 months so that a major upgrade of the the initial trail can be undertaken, with the installation of display plinths at various viewing nodes.

Once the basic infrastructure is in place, Southern Forest Arts will then seek Expessions of Interest from artists keen to exhibit work in the grounds for a 6 to 12 month period. A display policy is still in the early stages of development.

Future plans for the Garden Gallery also include the development of an amphitheatre and stage for outdoor concerts.

Watch this space for progress.