Wooden Waterway
David Nash 1978
Wooden Waterway lies just by the side of the road on the Millwood Trail, funneling water from a stream and down along its length, via narrow grooves carved into the top of the logs it is constructed from.
David Nash described the thought process and construction in Peter Davies and Tony Knipe's book 'A Sense Of Place':
"Realised the essential material of the forest is water. Spongy, wet humus surface - becoming firmer in the spring as trees suck up the water. Plan a combination of running water and wood. After a long search find a water source and two fallen trees lying down a slope. Diverted the water along branch troughs, through the roots of a fallen sycamore down its trunk, off along a thin ash branch trough, through the roots of a fallen sycamore, down its trunk, off along more troughs to finally pour over a stone and disappear into the ground."
Perhaps surprisingly, given its delicate state, Wooden Waterway just about survives to this day. Nash expressed his shock at the sculpture's hardiness:
"The Wooden Waterway has lasted years beyond expectation. Walkers who notice it and sometimes follow its course have been repairing it, realigning sections that have come adrift, cleaning out stones and leaves. For such a fragile, ad-hoc affair it is remarkable how it has survived. I thank all those kind souls who have had a hand in its preservation. Especially Keir Smith who stopped someone cutting it up for firewood."
Also by this artist:
Fork Ladder 1978
Horned Tripod 1978
Running Table 1978
Standing Branch 1978
Willow Ladder 1978
Willow Ladder II 1979
