Renowned artists Ackroyd & Harvey have brought their project Beuys’ Acorns to Thamesmead. A new oak circle in Crossway Park was unveiled in January 2026.

Who are Ackroyd & Harvey? 

Ackroyd & Harvey are internationally-acclaimed artistic duo Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey. They are best-known for creating thought-provoking works that combine art, activism, architecture, biology, ecology and history. 

Their artworks often reference subjects including memory, nature and the climate emergency – all of which are captured in the new Thamesmead oak circle. 

What is Beuys’ Acorns? 

Beuys’ Acorns is a project Ackroyd & Harvey started in 2007. They were inspired by artist and environmental activist Joseph Beuys, who planted 7,000 oak trees in the German city of Kassel between 1982 and 1987. 

The Beuys’ Acorns oaks – including all seven trees in the Thamesmead oak circle – were grown by Heather and Dan using acorns they collected from oaks planted by Beuys in Germany. 

“The Thamesmead oak circle is significant because it’s part of a series of circles we will be planting across the country in the coming years,” explained Heather. 

What are some of Ackroyd & Harvey’s best-known works? 

Beuys’ Acorns itself is one of Ackroyd & Harvey’s most well-known works. One of the highlights of the long-running project involved 100 oak trees being installed on Tate Modern’s South Terrace in 2021. One of the oaks remains there. 

A major public art commission, History Trees, saw 10 trees – each supporting a metal ring within its canopy – installed at the main entrances to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

Ackroyd & Harvey are also renowned for their dramatic and visually impressive works with grass. These include wearable, living grass coats, large-scale grass portraits and grass-covered buildings.

See some of their past works below.

Is it art or nature? 

It’s both. Ackroyd & Harvey often use living materials to make their art. The Crossway Park oaks are no exception. 

“People are familiar with seeing a sculpture carved out of a dead tree, but we see trees as sculptures in their own right,” said Heather. “Working with living materials means the artwork improves and gets more beautiful with age.” 

Planting the oaks in a circle is intended to create space for discussions about ecology. The artists also want the trees to play with ideas of time, memory and connection for local people. 

“Any young child who came along to the planting event perhaps may still remember the night in 30 years,” said Dan. “The children will grow and the trees will grow. Whenever they see the trees, we hope it will create a connection to the planting.”