Part of LOUDfence installation in Newcastle Cathedral; ‘the strawberries [Fragaria ananassa] are a symbol of post-traumatic growth’.

LOUDfence was founded in Australia in 2015, and became active in Britain in 2020: ‘LOUDfence UK is inspired by gospel values and aims to work with churches to actively foster a culture which is pro-safeguarding and truth telling.’

We are grateful to Jayne Forsdike, the Cathedral’s Safeguarding Officer, for explaining:

‘Those who have experienced abuse in the church often feel (or are made to feel of little value.  Valuing them for who they are right now means seeing them not as we (or they) might wish them to be, but as God sees them.  This means recognising life and growth in all ways, not just in ways we are accustomed to valuing.

The emblem we chose to represent this idea … is the strawberry plant.  At all points in their life cycle, strawberry plants are productive: when they have only leaves, they are taking nourishment from the sun for growth and vigour; when they have flowers, they are preparing for a time of fruitfulness; when they are in fruit they nourish others. Sometimes they have flowers and strawberries at the same time; sometimes they have neither, but at those times they might be sending out runners to create a new plant. And all this productivity grows out of muck – not despite the muck, but because of it …   We chose the strawberry plant to symbolise this growth: we are thriving because of the muck that has happened to us, and we are using it positively.’

Photograph taken 28 August 2026