Hidden amongst the trees in West Common lies a secret gem. A cross between Narnia, a children’s playground and a jumble sale, Lincoln Wish Tree is a refreshing yet bazaar escape from the stresses of everyday life. Totally free, this imaginative community garden is open 24/7 for anyone.
What is a wish tree?
Never heard of a wish tree before? Don’t worry, neither had I until I stumbled across Lincoln’s. Put simply, a wish tree is an individual tree, which is used as an object to place wishes, hopes, offerings and sometimes even prayers on. These trees exist all around the world and some people believe they have special religious or spiritual value.
Wish trees date as far back as the 1700’s and can be traced historically to superstitious culture in Britain. People believed that divine spirits lived in certain trees, so much so, they thought that if a sick person pressed a coin into the bark as an offering, their illness would go away. It’s also been said that wish trees bring fortune, with Scotland tying fabric to trees as a healing ritual, and The States throwing shoes into trees for good luck.
Where is the Lincoln Wish Tree?
The Lincoln Wish Tree nestled in the far corner of the cricket pitch in West Common, Lincoln, Lincolnshire. It is opposite the golf course and just behind the tennis courts. Not quite “second star to the right, and straight on till morning”, but you will feel like you are in Neverland when you get there. You will know when you are in the right spot when you gradually start to see various stuffed animal toys perched in between tree branches greeting you.
What to expect to find at the Lincoln Wish Tree?
The quirkiness grows from the entrance way of toy animals onwards. Ribbons, drawings and painted trees create an explosion of colour which is hard not to smile at. Take in the many patterns, textures, and reflections from a log seat, because who needs garden furniture when there are tree stumps to sit on? This garden embodies the feeling of childhood. Whether you are 5 or 85, sheltering underneath a handcrafted tepee made of sticks never gets old, as it is a nostalgic pastime many people can remember building in their youth.
This charming garden is made even better by the sentimental attachment from many of the miscellaneous objects. Deeply personal and touching messages are left hanging on the central tree. Some notes offered are for hope, others are for loss and some are simply for gratitude of their loved ones.
Who created the wish tree and garden?
Creative group, Lincoln Art Ninjas started this mad yet beautiful project. They run a community art studio at Art Ninja HQ, Queens Park Community Hub where fun and friendly art lessons, workshops and general creative mischief takes place. The tree was first dressed on the 16th of January 2020 and has been going strong ever since, despite some issues with flooding in February and March. 2020 was a dark time for many, so this philosophical and memorial garden could not have arrived at a better time, especially for those who had missed or lost their loved ones during the pandemic.
In an interview with one of the founders, Mia Monroe, she said that the wish tree aims to “inspire and motivate people to be creative” and that she chose that particular spot on the common due to the “hawthorne tree symbolism”. It turns out that hawthrorne trees are significant in Celtic mythology as they symbolise love and protection. Just as the tree loves and protects it’s visitors, someone has to love and protect the tree, so every Sunday, the creative team of around 20 people try to meet up to maintain it. They aim to make the garden as plastic free as possible, so if you do find yourself visiting and wanting to add to the collection, please be wary of sustainability.
What to do there?
This area is ideal for an escape from the craziness of life and is a perfect place to sit and think through some thoughts, but if you are looking for social activities, there is plenty opportunity there too. This mini wonderland is perfect for a stroll with a date, or just hanging out with friends. It would also be a great spot for creative students at the University of Lincoln or Lincoln College to visit, as it has the power to unlock a lot of ideas and would be a great setting for a photography or fashion shoot.
Unsurprisingly, it has also been a popular site for children’s birthday parties, and on the other slightly morbid end of the spectrum, it has even seen a hamster funeral! If you are a hopeless romantic like me, you will be glad to know that several marriage proposals have also been made at the Lincoln Wish Tree too.
The Lincoln Wish Tree is designed to be added to since it is a community project. While you are there, feel free to write messages or poems and add them to the tree. Going to this particular tree isn’t just a walk, it is an interactive and personal experience. This has been something many of us have struggled to find after using up many walking routes around Lincoln after the third lockdown.
Despite wish trees being designed to take physical things from you, be it a toy, message or a ribbon, you will end up leaving with more than you came with, because it gives back in so many other ways. Cynical people will say ‘it is just a tree’, but I disagree, after experiencing it for myself, I can see that as the tree grows, so does hope.
*Please respect the tree and the garden. Stealing, littering or vandalism of any kind will not be tolerated and is extremely disrespectful to the caring creators of this communal garden as well as those who have left memorial messages there for their loved ones.
Amazing! Will have to check this out for sure :)