Love Tree by Andy Phipps, Donna Poingdestre and local children and young people.

For generations, visitors to Victoria Park have carved hearts, initials and messages into the bark of a particular tree, leaving behind small declarations of love, friendship and connection. These marks have become part of the tree’s history, recording the lives of people who have passed beneath its branches.

Love Tree is a site-specific light and sound installation that celebrates this history while inviting a new generation to add their voices to its story.

Conceived and artistically directed by Andy Phipps of ART UP, with creative development and community engagement led by artist Donna Poingdestre (Winniemay), the project brings together children and young people from Portsdown Primary School, Charter Academy and Motivate Youth Club in Fratton.

Through creative workshops, conversations and recorded reflections, young people are invited to explore ideas of love, friendship, identity and belonging. What does love mean to them? Where do they feel connected? What makes a place special, and how do we leave our mark on the world?

As visitors walk beneath the tree, they will hear recordings of young people sharing their thoughts and reflections, creating an intimate encounter between the tree’s past and present. The voices become a new layer of its history, not carved into the bark but carried through sound.

At its heart, Love Tree is a celebration of the many different people, cultures, experiences and communities that make up Portsmouth. It recognises that love and belonging take many forms, and that every voice has a place in the shared story of a city.

Part of We Shine Portsmouth’s wider celebration of creativity and community, the installation invites visitors of all ages and backgrounds to pause, listen and reflect.

The tree has stood through generations of change. Its marks tell us that people have always wanted to be remembered, to connect and to belong. Love Tree asks us to consider the marks we leave, the stories we share and the connections that continue to grow.