Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens welcomes an international initiative celebrating peace and cooperation through art, landscape and 21 varieties of olive tree.
HRH The Duchess of Gloucester has attended the inauguration of the UK’s first Garden of Peace at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens in Cornwall, marking an important milestone for an international initiative bringing people and places together through the shared symbolism of the olive tree to promote international peace and cooperation.
The ceremony brought together representatives from Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, Cornwall Council and The Garden of Peace, alongside invited guests from the arts, horticulture and wider community. The Duchess of Gloucester was accompanied by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall during the ceremony, which took place in the gallery at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens.
The Duchess of Gloucester unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the opening of the garden. A letter from General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK, pledging his support for the initiative, was also read by Cllr Rob Nolan, Chairman of Cornwall Council.
The Garden of Peace is a growing international network of gardens, with Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens becoming the first Garden of Peace in the UK. The first garden opened in Paciano, Italy, and there are now 14 gardens across Italy, Spain, Greece, Morocco, Cyprus and the UK.
The inauguration also celebrated artistic contributions connected with the project, including those of Roger Thorp, artist and founder of the Olive Network, and Tim Shaw, whose sculpture celebrates the project. The inauguration was accompanied by Olive View, an exhibition presented in collaboration with the Olive Network (Roger and Lucy Thorpe) and curated by Lisa Wright.
The olive tree is at the heart of the project: an ancient symbol of peace, friendship, resilience and rebirth. Each new Garden of Peace adopts the same basic framework of 21 varieties of olive tree from 21 different countries, while remaining rooted in its own landscape and history. Together, the trees reflect the spirit of international cooperation and shared humanity, connecting places across the world while celebrating their differences.
Neil Armstrong, Director of Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, said:
“We are thrilled now to be officially part of the Garden of Peace Association. This is an invitation to reach out and cooperate with individuals, groups, nations and continents to create a new, kinder, considerate and respectful world.
A hugely symbolic but powerful conduit for those yearning for an end to conflicts.
As a legacy to the next generation, we all also need to battle against those who wish to dominate and crush freedom of speech.”
Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens would like to thank Lay’s Auctioneers for supporting the Garden of Peace project.
Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens would also like to thank Tremenheere Kitchen for providing canapés and lunch for guests, and Ruth Hall and the choir for their musical contributions to the occasion.
The Garden of Peace is now open to visitors at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens. The Gardens are open daily until Sunday 8 November, from 10.30am to 4.30pm, before closing for the winter break and reopening on Saturday 13 February 2027.
About Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens
Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens is a 22-acre garden in Cornwall, combining contemporary art, subtropical planting and landscape design in a dramatic setting overlooking Mount’s Bay.
The new Garden of Peace builds on Tremenheere’s longstanding relationship with art, horticulture and landscape. Set within its distinctive landscape, it offers visitors a place to pause and reflect on the relationship between nature, creativity and wellbeing.
About The Garden of Peace
The Garden of Peace is an international initiative connecting gardens across countries through a shared commitment to peace, cooperation and understanding, with the olive tree as its central symbol.
Find out more:
www.tremenheere.co.uk
www.thegardenofpeace.org
Featured image: The Garden of Peace at Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, Cornwall. Photograph: James Warbey
