These Charming Little Surprises Are Shocking Hikers Throughout Europe.

Imagine taking a woodland stroll in Western Europe. You are enjoying the crunch of leaves and the birdsong, when suddenly, you get the feeling you’re being watched. And it turns out…you are.

Being surrounded by grinning faces in the middle of the woods might be a little disconcerting at first, but they’ll soon win you over. The faces that are hiding in European woods were carefully painted on trees and stumps by an art collective called Zonenkinder (which means “Zone Kids”). The work is visible throughout France, Denmark and Germany. The “Tree Project” has been an ongoing effort since 2006.

The faces were created using biodegradable paints, so the images are not permanent.

The faces are subtle, and might not be noticed at first glance. They bring a sense of humor to their surroundings, and encourage hikers to take a closer look the beautiful forest. You never know what you might miss!