Eleven‑year‑old Niovi transforms Hackney Marshes trees into a cast of whimsical characters
Visitors taking a stroll along the River Lee in Hackney Marshes may spot a series of signs fixed to the trees, each sharing an eccentric, whimsical tale.
Niovi, an eleven‑year‑old girl, is the creative mind behind the notices, and over the past year Niovi has spent family walks inventing backstories for each tree.
The project, called the Talking Tree Collective, now features a small cast of characters, each attached to a specific trunk.
Among the characters is Humble Dick. The story on Humble Dick reads: “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.”
Another character is Bernard, described as a litter‑picking tree who is a “descendant of a legendary environmentalist lineage” and whose inspiration derives from nature documentaries.
Niovi told Gree London, “It started like a year ago when we walked around the marshes and we saw funny looking trees.”
Niovi continued, “We would make stories for them and then we eventually gave them personalities and names.”
Each tree’s backstory comes from its appearance – for example, when a tree has a dent, Niovi imagines how the dent might have occurred.
What began as a simple game during family walks with Coco the dog has since grown into a small, unofficial literacy trail.
The signs are anonymous, attributed only to the Talking Tree Collective, leaving the author a mystery until Niovi came forward.
Doug, Niovi’s father, helped Niovi make the signs but leaves most of the creativity to Niovi.
Doug said, “I’ve mostly been consigned to laminating and printing, so I leave the imagination to Niovi.”
Doug added, “I think news is pretty tough at the moment, so it’s nice to do something which is a bit more joyous.”
The signs are expected to remain in place for a few weeks, giving passers‑by a brief glimpse into Niovi’s world.
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