As visitors wander along the River Lea in Hackney Marshes, they may come across a collection of signs affixed to trees, each one narrating a unique and whimsical story.
This imaginative initiative is the work of an 11-year-old girl who has dedicated the past year to creating backstories for the trees during family outings.
Niovi’s endeavor, known as the Talking Tree Collective, features a variety of characters, including one named Humble Dick. His tale recounts, „In the war of 1952 between the local gang of sting nettles and a group of young saplings over a patch of scrubland, the brave Professor Humble Dick the Fourth was the last shoot standing.“
Creative Inspiration from Nature
Other notable characters include Bernard, a tree dedicated to litter picking, who is described as a „descendant of a legendary environmentalist lineage“ inspired by nature documentaries.
Niovi explained, „It started like a year ago when we walked around the marshes and we saw funny looking trees. We would make stories for them and then we eventually gave them personalities and names.“ Each tree’s narrative is inspired by its physical characteristics; for instance, if a tree has a dent, she imagines how it might have acquired it.
What began as a playful activity during family walks with their dog, Coco, has evolved into a small, unofficial literacy trail.
Anonymous Creativity and Community Engagement
The signs are presented anonymously, credited only to the Talking Tree Collective, which kept the identity of the creator a mystery until Niovi revealed herself.
Her father, Doug, has assisted her in creating the signs but allows Niovi to take the lead on the creative aspects. He remarked, „I’ve mostly been consigned to laminating and printing, so I leave the imagination to Niovi. I think news is pretty tough at the moment, so it’s nice to do something which is a bit more joyous.“
Currently, there are 16 trees in Hackney Marshes that feature these imaginative stories, which are expected to remain for a few weeks, offering passersby a glimpse into Niovi’s enchanting world.
Bildquelle: Foto von Donna White auf Unsplash
