To celebrate Cornwall Pride, Truro’s countryside rangers have created a new wooden sign for the Pride Tree in Victoria Gardens and have invited people to decorate and hang medallions on the tree to celebrate the different identifies that can be found within the LGBTQIA+ community.

The project is being led by assistant countryside ranger Anna Cormie, who came up with the idea of creating medallions with a pride flag on one side and a description explaining the importance of the symbol last year.

“I wanted to create a safe place where people could come and learn more about the different identities that can be found within the LGBTQIA+ community and celebrate the diversity we have,” she said. 

After experimenting with some initial designs, Anna worked with Barry Cooper, head gardener at Victoria Gardens, and Abi Steel from Visit Truro to identify a place to display the medallions year round, with the honour falling to a weeping beech tree. 

Having designed and erected the new Pride Tree sign, together with medallions with images celebrating different LGBTQIA+ identities, a special event was held for people to come along and decorate medallions to hang on the branches.  

Mental health charity Penguin Soup also took part. The charity works to reduce isolation and disenfranchisement, and increase access to mental health support and decrease risks of poor mental health within the LGBTQIA+ community. Its members will help to care for the display. 

Victoria Gardens are maintained by Truro City Council.