DISCOVERING THE TRUE NATURE OF THE TIDAL TREE

THE WHO

The Tidal Tree is my one woman creative journey, my solo artistic escapade. If you are not stalking me on social media, then why not? LOL. If you aren't then this post is your golden ticket to BeckiLand. So buckle up, buttercup!

Yep, I'm Becki. Hi there, nice to e-meet you all.

THE WHERE

Here I am, living in the adorable nook called Portchester, just a hop, skip, and a jump northwest of Portsmouth, England.

It is part of the borough of Fareham in Hampshire. Once a small village, Portchester is now busier than a bumblebee in a flower shop nestled snuggly between Portsmouth and Southampton. Portchester is on the coast, and we are surrounded by beaches and shores aplenty, just like a big seaside hug!

At the North end of Portsmouth Harbour is an ancient Roman Fort. Within these grounds, centuries later, a castle was built after the Norman Conquest. So much history in one place. Not only is it a Roman fortification, it was a prisoner or war depot over the centuries and it was also once a royal residence.

In 1984, the whole site came into care of the English Heritage. The grounds surrounding the Outer Bailey is the perfect place for people of all ages to relax, enjoy the great outdoors. It's an idyllic spot for a summer picnic, games with the kiddos, even fly a kite or just run around with the dog - just take your pick!

THE WHEN

The Tidal Tree sprouted to life in the bonkers year of 2020. Curious about "The When"? Take a peek at my previous blog post, "Drifting Along - through COVID".

In the whirling dervish of a pandemic called COVID-19, amidst the global kerfuffle, we stumbled upon an opportunity to slam the brakes and bond with our nearest and dearest - or those folks we selected as our quarantine squad. Boy, were we blessed with weather back in March 2020! It was utterly peachy, frolicking outside for our "daily exercise" and rekindling our romance with Mother Nature.

THE WHY

Our pursuit for the perfect garden wall art had us scouring the depths of the internet for rustic treasures, wrestling with overpriced wall ornaments at garden centers, and digging through the yawn-inducing selection at high street stores. Each option was met with a resounding "meh" from the family. But then, eureka! I had a brainwave to assemble my treasure trove of driftwood into a unique piece of art.

During the great indoor era of countless lockdowns, as I already mentioned, I rekindled my love affair with the big blue and its wondrous secrets through endless beach strolls. To my shock and awe, the sheer amount of trash gracing our shores left me baffled and it rattled my seaweed-filled heart. It was time for some eco-action. I was compelled to embark on a mission of environmental salvation, rallying the troop and joining forces with my community for some epic beach and street cleaning crusades.

Now, whenever I'm beachcombing, scooping up litter along the way feels as natural as breathing air, and chucking it in the bin has become my superpower!

I snatch, I trash, and I dash!

THE WHAT

I decided to make a large initial with a lot of the foraged driftwood. Friends and family couldn't help but gush over my eye-catching and unique artwork. And so, after whipping up some more initials, a sassy sea star, and a charming seahorse, The Tidal Tree sprang to life with a splash!

The mighty mission of The Tidal Tree – to sprinkle joy and creativity and add a pinch of delight and inventiveness across the globe.

By turning driftwood into artsy masterpieces, we're giving sustainability and eco-friendliness a big hug.

The Tidal Tree serves as a funky, colourful reminder of the need to combat climate change, slash water pollution, and curb waste disposal, while urging us to act like eco-warriors, saving our beloved planet for the coming generations.