Mother Tree: An Outdoor Performance

Did you know that some trees become more than just part of the landscape? They turn into landmarks—symbols that root a community’s shared stories and identity. Farnborough has just such a tree.

After nearly a year of creatively exploring Rushmoor’s urban green spaces and connecting with local communities, The Places That Link Us artists Barbara and Judita invite you to come together in celebration of our very own “Mother Tree”—a magnificent London plane whose wide, sheltering canopy has graced the green next to Farnborough Library for generations. A natural gathering place, it’s been a spot for resting, sharing a picnic, and finding shade from the sun or cover from the rain.

Joined by sound artist Boris, Barbara and Judita will present a unique performance blending movement, visuals and sound—a moment to pause, reflect, and connect with nature and each other.

📅 Saturday, October 4th, 2025

🕕 6:00 PM

📍 Library Green, beneath the Mother Tree

Come celebrate our green spaces, the stories they hold, and the power of art to bring us together.

Created and performed by: Barbara Touati-Evans, Judita Vivas and Boris Allenou.

"Mother Tree" is a celebration of our time spent in the Library Green and the many conversations it has inspired — with residents, historians, artists, and ecologists — about the value and life of this shared green space.

It’s an ode to the seasonal transformations we’ve witnessed: from the bare branches of spring casting intricate shadows in the sharp sunlight, to the full palette of summer — leaves, grasses, and flowers in every shade of green — and now, once again, the gentle surrender to autumn's damp chill and winter’s quiet stillness.

It’s a tribute to the ghosts of the past, to the trees that have stood as silent witnesses to the land’s changes, and to our hopes for what lies ahead.

At its heart, Mother Tree is about co-existence — not dominance — and the deep-rooted connections between people, place, and time.

The Places That Link Us is a year-long (2025 - 2026) outdoor arts project reaching across the Rushmoor community and the area, inspiring people with the creation of a new community garden, outdoor sculpture and performance, providing opportunities to create and come together outdoors, and increasing awareness of local green spaces. Co-led by two artists, Barbara Touati-Evans and Judita Vivas, The Places That Link Us is a partnership between the Hampshire Cultural Trust, West End Centre, Hawley Community Garden, and Farnborough Library. It is funded by the Farnborough Airport Community Environment Fund and Pride in Place Grant / UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Host or Publisher The Places That Link Us