Art project- material/idea question

I was thinking of starting a “community-sourced” art project of sorts to try and recreate/preserve the tactile connection to people’s favorite trees. I typically do block/woodcut printing so I thought an impression/pencil rubbing and creating a print or carved replica would be most familiar. But then I was thinking it’d be more natural to just slap some terracotta against the bark and essentially create a cast, and then…? Idk let it dry? (I don’t know anything about clay except digging it up to make sun pots as a child lol).

What do you think? Have you heard of similar work? Any thoughts around mediums/materials with which to experiment?

As far as it being “community sourced” I was thinking of experimenting with it myself first, then doing a “citizen science” sort of project in the community, but maybe larger if possible. Seemed like a potential way to build some connection around seemingly common objects.

I was inspired by an artist that does block prints of local infrastructure he considers significant, a planning activity called “places of the heart”, and a big tree by the bus stop I use- an oak with 2” deep ridges