Fir tree from 150 years ago to help visitors through Arnolfini show after Arboretum felling

A 150-year-old tree haunted by invasive fungus will become part of a major exhibition at the Arnolfini in Bristol this autumn after a special Tree Team dismantles it at Westonbirt Arboretum’s bark-loving Treefest this weekend.

The doomed Douglas fir will form part of Matti Braun – Gost Log at the pioneering gallery, which will have its first floor flooded so that visitors can only peruse the space by treading carefully across stepping stones made out of the tree.

Organisers from the Arnolfini visited the Arboretum earlier this year, picking the fir from a list of trees identified for removal by the Forestry Commission.

“As with all trees that have to be removed as part of the management of Westonbirt's tree collection, this historic Douglas fir won't be wasted,” explained Andy Jane, the Tree Team Operations Co-Ordinator at the Gloucestershire site.

“Westonbirt's trees go on to become a multitude of things, from woodcraft, tables and flooring to woodchip for the arboretum's paths, but this is the first time we have linked with a major art exhibition. We are all excited to see how the installation will look."

• Treefest takes place August 25-27 2012. See our Preview. For more on Matti Braun – Gost Log visit the show online.