Bramble heart

the curious and imagined
digging in the soil, unearthing, revealing
the blackbird heralds
in full summer song

digging in the soil, unearthing, revealing
the severed heart of bramble

balancing, battling, mixed blessing;
nursing the new, neglectful nuisance

the blackbird heralds
in full summer song



2021
Single-channel video with stereo sound, 1’02”
Location: Forest Garden, Suffolk
With reference to the hardy native Rubus fruticosus pioneer plant, with lethal thorns and long, arching stems that keenly develop deep suckering roots. A reminder that the Forest Garden lies undecided between meadow, wasteland, woodland or forest.

© Sophie Standford, 2025
Unless otherwise indicated, all materials on these pages are copyrighted.
No part of these pages, either text or images may be used for any purpose 
other than personal use, unless explicit authorisation is given by Sophie Standford
.