Moss Bench

THE CONCEPT

Moss is a natural sponge and carbon sequester and is an integral part of Ireland and our wet climate. The Moss Bench rethinks stone and moss in a creative and contemporary way, showcasing our vernacular stone wall building methods and exploring applications of moss.

The bench serves several purposes:

• A water collection system which distributes rain water throughout the moss bench area and out to a chosen space through steel runnels

• Serves as a seat and viewing area to spectacular Lough Derg

• Holds moss which naturally cleans the air - Is a functional sculptural

• Is a legacy piece of the Field Exhcange programme made with and by the farm ambassadors that reminds those around it of sustainability and climate action

Application possibilities include use in gardens, playgrounds, parks, and city streets as a natural air purifier and call-back to traditional Irish building methods.

COLLABORATION AND ENGAGEMENT

Months before building the moss bench, Esther met with the 11 key farm ambassadors of Field Exchange to educate them about the different benefits and potential applications of moss. She held a ‘moss graffiti’ workshop where the ambassadors painted moss and yogurt mixtures onto outdoor walls to create artworks that would grow moss on vertical surfaces.

After the moss workshop and talk, the group explored various areas around Brookfield Farm where the bench would be located. They settled on a space just above the barn where there is a beautiful view of Lough Derg and easy access to the bench.

THE STRUCTURE

The construction and ideation was a collaborative effort between the Irish Dry Stonewall Association Ken Curran and Esther & Ed of Elements of Action. Esther Gerrard designed and managed the project, the stonemasons built the structure with the farm Ambassadors as part of the 6 month Field Exchange programme and the rain catcher and runnels were constructed by Ed Coveney.

THE PROCESS

The process as shown above was a collaborative effort between the Irish Dry Stonewall Association and Esther & Ed of Elements of Action. Esther Gerrard designed and managed the project, the Stonemasons built the structure of the bench, and the rain catcher and runnels were constructed by Ed Coveney (3rd photo above).

Locally sourced stone was used and should be used when replicating this project and it should be built in the traditional manner with local masons preserve our cultural heritage and traditions in the process. The rain water can be stored in adjacent tanks or used to feed rain gardens, ponds or local beds.

THE PRESENTATION

On August 31st, 2024 as a part of the Field Exchange Festival, Esther Gerrard of Elements of Action introduced the Moss Bench, the featured outdoor art installment. Ackroyd and Harvey then presented their project which is the indoor art installation.