The Tree of Trees
Heatherwick Studio
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Buckingham Palace, London. 2022 with Queen's Green Canopy and Heatherwick Studio supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies
A shared structure built together For the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we were commissioned to technically design, fabricate and install The Tree of Trees. A 21-metre sculptural landmark set in front of Buckingham Palace. Created with Heatherwick Studio for The Queen’s Green Canopy. The structure was designed to act as both a national symbol and a living legacy.
The sculpture was built from reclaimed steel, with materials and expertise sourced from across the UK. It supports 350 trees, each set in an aluminium pot embossed with Her Majesty’s cypher. From the outset, the brief demanded more than scale. The trees needed to thrive during the installation, be safely dismantled, and later redistributed to communities across the country.
We led the technical development, balancing structural performance, wind loading, irrigation, transport and installation within a highly sensitive site. Systems were tested, adjusted and refined to ensure stability, protect the trees and allow efficient assembly and removal.
The project brought together engineers, fabricators, arborists and public bodies, requiring calm coordination and clear judgement throughout. Following the Jubilee, the trees were carefully stored before being gifted to community groups.
Today, The Tree of Trees reminds us that all projects are shaped by many hands, steady judgement and shared responsibility. For everyone involved, it stands as a point of collective pride in delivering something meaningful, together.
Materials
- Reclaimed surplus Mild Steel
- 350 Native Trees
- Aluminium Pots
- 80 Branches
- 21 metres high