Artist’s unusual work highlights threat to golf course near Horsham

An unusual new art installation appeared overnight last week on a golf course near Horsham - but only a couple of early morning golfers were able to see it before it disappeared.
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The artwork - 100 pairs of strategically placed shoes on one of the greens at Rookwood Golf Course - was aimed at highlighting a threat of 1,100 homes being built there.

Artist Morag Warrack said: “I wanted to draw people’s attention to the beauty here before it too disappears.

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“Rookwood is under imminent threat - the plans to build here are on the brink of being set in stone.”

Art installation at Rookwood Golf Course SUS-200306-105522001Art installation at Rookwood Golf Course SUS-200306-105522001
Art installation at Rookwood Golf Course SUS-200306-105522001

Morag, who dubbed her work Deed of Dedication, said it represented her fears and hopes. “Fears that so many diverse people, young and old, golfers, walkers and joggers will not be able to enjoy this natural green space for much longer.

“And my hope is that with a legal document, which is called a Deed of Dedication, we can preserve this beautiful area for all the people in perpetuity.”

She said she based her idea on artist Andy Goldsworthy who uses nature to create artworks and takes photos of his work before it disappeares.

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“It really captures the fleeting nature of life, and I wanted to do something similar,” said Morag.

She said that open spaces were not evenly distributed throughout the district. “There’s a bias of roads and urban development all around Horsham town, but relatively little in the central area, so targeting intervention here to protect this green lung will protect the health and wellbeing of at least a third of people in the whole district.”

She said Rookwood would be ‘perfect as a country park’. “It was actually designed to complement Warnham Nature Reserve and has been cared for in a safe eco-friendly way for over 22 years.”

She said the land should be protected in perpetuity for present and future generations to enjoy and called on people to contact their local councillors to voice their views.

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