Limelight

• Westonbirt Arboretum, Tetbury, England
• 2002
• CLIENT: Westonbirt International Festival of Gardens

The intent of the design is to draw attention to and honor one of the ‘Champion’ trees in England’s National Arboretum. The gesture recognizes the rare opportunity to do an installation within an arboretum.

Limelight was conceived for the Westonbirt International Garden Show. Set within a renowned arboretum, filled with champion trees, the earthwork places a “blue ribbon” around the base of the garden’s prized Platanus acerifolia. Elegantly calling attention to what is often overlooked, the earthwork frames the tree within the meadow, creating an amphitheater that invites visitors to look up and admire the remarkable specimen. A simple path mown within the meadow creates an axial connection, while a large, hollowed earthen mound defines the space around the chosen tree. The sculpted earth is formed to create a miniature amphitheater. Seen from the outside, the earthwork is a sculpted object, that frames the tree and distinguishes it from the surrounding grove. Inside the concave space, the form falls gently to an opening marked by the centerpiece tree.

Ramsey Silberberg served as a Principal on the project while at Meyer + Silberberg Land Architects. Images ©Meyer + Silberberg Landscape Architecture, Inc.