Leaves of the Tree at Worcester Cathedral

11th August 2021

Hundreds of paper leaves with messages of hope have been created by schoolchildren across Worcestershire in response to a new art installation which has just opened in Worcester Cathedral.

Schoolchildren leave messages of hope inspired by new art installation in Worcester Cathedral 

Worcester Cathedral is hosting ‘The Leaves of the Trees’ – an installation of 5,000 steel ‘Hope’ leaves, as a reflective memorial to the effects of the pandemic by artist Peter Walker.

Leaves of teh Tree Worcester Cathedral

As part of this, 60 Worcestershire and Dudley schools have used paper leaves to create their own displays based on the exhibition and some will go on show in the cathedral to inspire visitors to create their own.

Leaves of the Trees is a touring art installation which has already been seen in Exeter, Sheffield, Lichfield cathedrals and Southwell Minster and will tour more English Cathedrals throughout Autumn. It is designed to provide people with an opportunity to personally reflect on the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on their family and their communities, and honour those who have lost their lives.

The installation is made up of 5,000 steel leaves, each featuring the word ‘HOPE’, which are laid out on the floor of the Cathedral, creating an impression of fallen autumn leaves. The artist, Peter Walker, said the leaves were symbolic for the times we are living in.

Exhibition runs from 5 August – 31 August. Visitors can add their own hope leaf to the growing paper display in the Dean’s Chapel. 

Find out more here.