The Garden of Hope in the Gardens at Burghley

Created by Evelyn's Butterfly Effect, the installation is currently touring Lincolnshire, bringing communities together to reflect, remember, and talk more openly about mental health.

The installation features 98 handcrafted butterflies, each representing one of the 98 lives lost to suicide in Lincolnshire in 2024. Together, they also symbolise the far‑reaching impact of loss, with research suggesting that up to 135 people can be deeply affected by each death. The Garden of Hope aims to gently challenge stigma and encourage meaningful conversations about mental health, suicide prevention, and hope.

Every butterfly has been individually painted by members of the local community - schools, groups, families and individuals - reflecting how deeply these issues matter across all ages and backgrounds. Each piece carries its own story of hope and care. The steel butterflies were made locally by Grantham Fabrication, whose design input and support have been key to bringing the installation to life.

The project is led by Evelyn's Butterfly Effect, founded by Jack and Jenni in memory of their daughter Evelyn Gibson, who died by suicide in 2022 aged just 15. The initiative continues her legacy by encouraging kindness, connection and positive change around mental health.

Jenni Swift, Co-Founder of Evelyn's Butterfly Effect explains "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 that exhausting battle with their own mind, searching for a way forward. She wanted no-one else to feel that 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.

We were inspired by two important installations in 2025 CALM’s Missed Birthdays and the Headlight Project’s Garden of Hope - two powerful examples of how public art can hold space for grief, spark connection, and make people stop and feel. The Headlight Project’s Garden of Hope demonstrated how something personal, like painting a butterfly, can offer comfort and expression to families and communities.

We were incredibly inspired by CALM’s Missed Birthdays installation and the way it turned 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 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.

We’ve carried those ideas into something 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 spirit behind our project, and we hope it gently opens the door to conversations that really matter."

The Garden of Hope has been generously funded by the SK Community Fund, with additional support from Grantham Arts and partner venues across the county. Following its time Burghley House the installation will continue its tour at Whisby Nature Park and Grantham House.

Visitors to the Sculpture Garden at Burghley House can see the Garden of Hope installation on display amongst the wildflower meadows.

To find out more visit Evelyn's Butterfly Effect on Facebook.