TREES by Paul Armfield

In early 2023 singer/songwriter Paul Armfield was commissioned by environmental group Gift To Nature to compose a suite of songs about five trees that grow in Sibden Hill, a small but surprisingly diverse copse all but hidden in the middle of a modern housing estate in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight. Paul debuted the songs last May to several small audiences beneath the very trees that inspired them, thereafter, strategically placed QR codes allow visitors to the woods to listen to the songs in situ.



Paul's solo recordings of the songs have been available exclusively on the Gift To Nature website since last May, but at the end of 2023 Paul commissioned his friend the Norwegian fiddle-playing songstress Mari Persen to arrange and record strings for the songs, the resultant EP will be released on the 14th June both digitally and on CD.

IN PAUL'S WORDS
'In writing the songs I have endeavoured to explore the role of the trees as experienced both by us and by other animals, whether that be as playground, shelter, habitat or meeting place, signpost, crop or friend. Referencing their legends, lore and mythology, I wanted to give each tree a unique voice in which to tell their story.'