Grizedale Forest is a 24.47 km2 area of woodland in the Lake District of North West England, located to the east of Coniston Water and to the south of Hawkshead.

The project was started by Bill Grant OBE, who formed the Grizedale Society in 1977, supported by Peter Davies of Northern Arts.

Notable sculptors included David Nash, Sally Matthews, Andy Goldsworthy, Robert Koenig, Walter Bailey and Michael Winstone.

Sutherland suspended the forest-based residency programme and focused on bringing a younger generation of contemporary artists to the Lake District, holding a series of pop culture-flavoured artist-led events at the Grizedale Centre, including 2000's The Festival of Lying (by artist collective People From Off) which featured writer Jon Ronson alongside storytellers from Cumbria's World's Biggest Liar competition, and 2001's The Great Escape (featuring actor Don Estelle).

In the following decade Sutherland curated a series of influential touring shows influenced by the Lake District's cultural and economic themes, including Roadshow (2003) & MoMA PS1 collaboration Romantic Detachment (2004-5).

The Forestry Commission in turn leased the art organisation Lawson Park, a derelict farmstead on the edge of Grizedale Forest above the eastern shores of Coniston Water.

Sutherland led a £1.2 million refurbishment of the property, resulting in a RIBA Award-winning artists' residency and warden accommodation set in 12 acres of land, opened by Sir Nicholas Serota & Eric Robson in 2009.

The organisation hosts a members' club and volunteers and artists in residence of all disciplines at Lawson Park, supporting their contributions to wide-ranging social and cultural projects.

The highest point within Grizedale Forest is the 314 m high Carron Crag, overlooking a wooden panopticon sculpture.