#noticethistree
A group of us who were involved in the Save the Happy Man Tree campaign (2020-21) set up a group we call NoticeThisTree. We organise 'interventions' to coincide with the UK tour of The Happy Man Tree film. I was thrilled when Picturehouse Cinemas selected The Happy Man Tree to tour Picturehouse and other cinemas that have signed up to the UK wide Green Screen Network, a timely initiative whereby cinemas commit to screening more environmental films.
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NoticeThisTree interventions incorporate film screenings, participatory art, projects, ecological education, and climate-cafe-style reflection spaces. Unlike the standard industry distribution strategy whereby films are screened across cinemas in a relatively short time frame, we instead allow time (around six to eight weeks) between screenings to give us time to connect with local people in the respective cities in advance of the screenings. The first intervention took place at Picturehouse Finsbury Park in November 2023 - the film sold out. Subsequent screenings have taken place in Hackney, Brighton, Nottingham, Plymouth, Bristol - and more are planned. Alongside NoticeThisTree interventions the film is screened in festivals and other cinemas such as Aesthetica (York), Wildscreen (Bristol) and the next non-NoticeThisTree screening will be at The Northern Light Cinema in Wirksworth, Derbyshire on Sunday 10th and Tuesday 12th November. See here for more info and to buy tickets.
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People who participated in NoticeThisTree interventions are invited to walk from a tree of
their choice to the cinema. Some people walk from trees that are under threat of being felled or from the sites where trees have been felled. Others just walk from a favourite tree or one that they feel a special connection with.
After walking to the cinema stories of trees and insights about the natural world are shared and people contribute to our Mycelium Mundus tapestry which is worked on at each event.
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After watching The Happy Man Tree film we reflect on the issues that are raised in the film as well as the wider issues pertaining to the ongoing Climate Crisis.
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It is so heartening that so many people have engaged in the three stages of the interventions and have made suggestions of things to make/do.
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Take a look at the noticethistree.org website to
find out more.