Mushroom Scuplt Project

We are incredibly proud to unveil the unique collaboration that has been growing behind the scenes for an entire year. Our students have officially launched their Mushroom Sculpt Project, a bespoke art installation that bloomed at the National Trust’s beautiful Crook Hall Gardens.

From the initial sketches to the final organic forms, this project has been a masterclass in patience, sustainability and site-specific design.

Inspired by the ‘threads in the ground’ (the vast, hidden networks of mycelium), students worked to create sculptures that mirror the interconnectedness of nature. Spending months studying the historic grounds of Crook Hall, drawing inspiration from its medieval manor, terraced gardens, toadlet statues, views of the cathedral and the winding River Wear.

Using mycelium (the root structure of fungi) as a sustainable building material, students learnt how to grow art rather than just build it. The sculptures represent the hidden life beneath our feet, bringing the invisible ‘wood wide web’ to the surface for visitors to see.

Over the course of the year, our students navigated a complex creative process of visits to Crook Hall to understand the landscape and light.  Experimenting with organic molds and sustainable threads. Monitoring the live mycelium as it bonded with agricultural waste to form solid, sculptural shapes and carefully placing the works within the gardens to complement the natural environment.

The sculptures are now officially part of the Crook Hall experience. They were unveiled during February half term and will remain on display throughout the spring. The intricate thread patterns that connect the sculptures to the earth, symbolising the symbiotic relationship between fungi and the forest, is a wonderful sight to see.

Students commented that “Working with a live medium like mycelium was a total shift in mindset. You aren’t just the artist; you’re a collaborator with nature. Seeing them finally sitting in the gardens at Crook Hall is a huge moment for all of us.”

A special thank you to the National Trust team at Crook Hall  and Threads in the Ground for providing our students with such a prestigious platform and for encouraging the use of eco-friendly, biodegradable art materials.