Artists

For my first two collections I’ve worked with 2 artists who’ve designed the prints for the shirts.

I hope that Apple Tree can provide a platform for others that want to produce designs. If you’ve got a design to share please get in touch.

Ellie Early

Ellie is a textiles student at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth in the United States. Ellie was here in the UK in the summer of 2007 studying at Central St Martins. Ellie’s back in the States now finishing her studies and living on an organic farm (www.silverbrookorganic.com). She’s interested in exploring how clothing design can connect with agriculture, public space and education.

For her designs for Apple Tree Clothing, Ellie used standard motifs like stripes and dots on images of British wildlife. Ellie says “England has lovely parks and open spaces for wild life. As cities grow bigger I hope wildlife remains, like stripes and polka dots, a standard.”

In June 2007, Ellie won a CITDA competition designing textile prints for children’s wear. You can see the winning designs here. You can email Ellie at u_eearly@umassd.edu.

Annabel Wright

Annabel is based in Glasgow. She’s involved in all kinds of visual arts but is primarily an illustrator. To see more of Annabel's work, visit Heart Agency.

Prints

The collection is inspired by the British outdoors. Here's some more information on the prints.

Butterfly

Butterflies of different sizes and colours brighten summer days. But the damp summer weather in 2007 has meant that the numbers of butterflies in the UK has dropped. As butterflies can’t fly in wet weather they couldn’t reach the plants that they feed on or breed with other butterflies.

You can help to support butterflies by planting wildflowers, thyme or other native plants in your garden or window box.

To find out more about butterflies visit:

• http://www.www.butterfly-conservation.org

Frog

You can often see frog spawn in ponds in gardens or parks during March – April, sometimes earlier if the weather is warm. These are the jelly-like eggs laid by frogs from which tadpoles emerge. Frogs develop from tadpoles through a process called “metamorphosis” which takes 12-14 weeks.

The common frog is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Find out more about frogs at:

• http://www.www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/483.shtml

Squirrel

The red squirrel is native to Britain. They live in large nests, called dreys, which they like to build in trees. These nests are made from twigs and lined with moss and grass. They love to eat pine and other seeds, acorns, funghi and berries. Baby squirrels are called kittens.

The numbers of red squirrels are threatened by the increasing number of grey squirrels and road traffic.

For lots more information try:

• http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/Redsquirrel

Pheasant

Pheasants aren’t native to Britain, but were introduced a long time ago. Now they can be seen around hedgerows and close to woods in the countryside. You can recognise them from their pretty feathers and long tails. They love to eat seeds, grain and shoots.

For lots more information try:

• http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/p/pheasant/

Stag

The red deer is Britain’s largest mammal. The male deer is called a stag and has large antlers. In summer their coats are red, turning grey/brown in winter. They eat plants, and live on open hills or near the edge of woods.

Stags grow antlers each year and then lose them.

For lots more information try:

• http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/Reddeer

Tree

In autumn some trees lose their leaves. These are called deciduous trees. These trees have adapted to the different conditions that winter brings.

For lots more information try:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deciduous
• http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/find/seasonwatch.htm
• http://www.zephyrus.co.uk/autumnleaves.html

Leaves

Sycamore trees aren’t native to Britain, but are easy to spot by their fan-shaped leaves. You can often find them in local parks and gardens or along streets as well as in woods or forests. Their leaves are dark green, turning yellow in autumn when they lose their leaves.

For lots more information try:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_pseudoplatanus

Pine cones

The Scots Pine is the only native British pine tree. It can grown up to 40m tall. The pine cones turn brown in the autumn and contain seeds.

The Scots Pine is great for wildlife. Birds can nest or feed around the trees, and red squirrels love to eat the seeds and cones.

For lots more information try:

• http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/tfl.scpine.html