Garden of Hope Installation Tours Lincolnshire to Spark Mental Health Conversations
A powerful and moving art installation designed to spark crucial conversations around mental health and suicide prevention is currently touring various locations across Lincolnshire throughout the spring and summer months. Organised by the community initiative Evelyn’s Butterfly Effect, the Garden of Hope project invites members of the public to reflect, connect, and engage with these vital topics at several historic and natural sites.
Tour Schedule and Locations
The installation will be displayed at multiple venues across the county, providing widespread community access. The scheduled tour dates and locations are as follows:
- Belton House: On display until April 18
- Gunby Hall: April 20 to May 9
- Ayscoughfee Hall: May 11 to May 30
- Burghley House: June 1 to June 20
- Whisby Nature Park: June 22 to July 18
- Grantham House: July 20 to September 30
The Significance of the 98 Butterflies
The Garden of Hope features exactly 98 meticulously hand-painted steel butterflies, each one representing and honouring a life lost to suicide in Lincolnshire during 2024. It is important to note that suicide rates are based on the date of registration of death, which occurs after an inquest and can sometimes take more than a year to complete.
The impact of a suicide extends far beyond the individual and is profoundly devastating for those left behind. Research indicates that a single death can deeply affect up to 135 people. Collectively, these 98 butterflies also symbolise the estimated 13,230 family members, friends, colleagues, and community members who carry the weight of that loss.
While the word 'suicide' can feel daunting, the project actively aims to dismantle stigma and plant seeds of hope through open, compassionate dialogue. The primary goal is straightforward: to initiate important conversations about mental health, suicide prevention, and, most importantly, the enduring presence of hope.
A Community-Created Symbol of Remembrance
Every butterfly in this poignant installation has been lovingly and uniquely painted by members of the local Lincolnshire community. Schools, community groups, families, and individuals of all ages and backgrounds contributed their creativity, reflecting how deeply these issues resonate across society.
From pre-school children to residents in retirement communities, the artwork represents a true cross-section of the community, with each piece carrying its own distinct story of hope, care, and remembrance. The organisers have expressed profound gratitude to everyone who contributed their time, creativity, and heart to bringing this powerful installation to life.
The steel butterflies themselves were produced locally by Grantham Fabrication. The project organisers extend their sincere thanks to the company for designing and creating the beautiful structures and for their unwavering enthusiasm and support throughout the entire project.
The Symbolism of the Butterfly
Butterflies were chosen for their powerful symbolism of transformation, freedom, and hope. Their remarkable journey from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly serves as a poignant reminder that change—even when slow, difficult, or painful—can ultimately lead to something beautiful and new.
Seeing a butterfly is often considered a gentle reminder that growth takes time, but it is always worth the effort, and that hope can sustain a community until brighter days inevitably arrive.
Funding and Support
This significant community project has been generously funded by the SK Community Fund. Additionally, Grantham Arts provided vital support by hosting numerous community painting workshops where the butterflies were decorated.
The organisers are deeply appreciative of all the hosting locations for their generous support. Special thanks are offered to the National Trust at Belton House, whose essential partnership was instrumental in bringing the Garden of Hope project to life.
About Evelyn’s Butterfly Effect
Evelyn’s Butterfly Effect is a heartfelt community initiative run by Jack and Jenni Swift. It was created in loving memory of their daughter, Evelyn Gibson, who tragically died by suicide in 2022 at the age of just 15. Evelyn was known for her exceptionally kind heart, and this project honours her legacy by actively encouraging kindness, connection, and positive change surrounding mental health awareness.
Jenni Swift, co-founder of Evelyn’s Butterfly Effect, stated, "Our aim with this project is to open important conversations about mental health, suicide prevention,, and—most importantly—hope."
Evelyn often shared that she never wanted anyone else to endure what she did—to feel caught in an exhausting battle with their own mind while searching for a way forward. She wanted no one else to feel that profound pain. "Although she is no longer here, those conversations remain at the heart of Evelyn’s Butterfly Effect, guiding everything we do. In this Garden of Hope, each butterfly carries a message of comfort and a reminder that change is possible," added Swift.
Inspiration and Community Impact
The project drew inspiration from two important national installations in 2025: CALM’s Missed Birthdays and the Headlight Project’s Garden of Hope. These were powerful examples of how public art can hold space for grief, spark genuine human connection, and make people pause and feel.
The Headlight Project’s Garden of Hope demonstrated how a personal, creative act like painting a butterfly could offer comfort and a means of expression to grieving families and communities.
"We were incredibly inspired by CALM’s Missed Birthdays installation and the way it turned sobering statistics into something visual and impossible to ignore. In the same way, we hope the Garden of Hope will catch people’s attention from a distance with its colour and beauty, and then, as they step closer, reveal the true, profound meaning behind the butterflies. That moment of realisation can be incredibly powerful, and we hope it gently opens the door to conversations that really matter," explained the organisers.
"We’ve carried those inspiring ideas into something uniquely meaningful for Lincolnshire. Both projects reminded us why this work matters: when communities create something beautiful and meaningful together, people feel seen, supported, and less alone. That’s the essential spirit behind our project."
