Environmental Art Piece – the Square of Leaning Trees

“We have long known that Cēsis attracts creative, talented, and idea-rich people. The new square ‘Cēsis Attracts!’ clearly proves this—it is a unique addition to the urban environment and will be a strong attraction for both locals and tourists. After all, where else can you see a magnet so powerful that it draws not only people but even trees!” highlights the Cēsis Tourism Information Center.

The new square—already nicknamed by people as the Leaning Trees Square or Garden—is located at the corner of Uzvaras Boulevard and Dzintara Street. It is a gift to the people of Cēsis from the company Draugiem Group. As company spokesperson Jānis Palkavnieks explains: “Cēsis attracts people and continues to do so.” He says the idea for such an environmental artwork arose alongside the plan to install several public water fountains in the city.

But why are the trees leaning?“Because the magnet attracts them, just as it draws in good ideas and people from all over Latvia and the world. The leaning trees will either be liked or disliked—no one will be indifferent. That’s why it will be a discussion piece for as long as the park exists.”

The square’s design and reconstruction were carried out by the company Labie koki. Its owner, Edgars Neilands—the creator of the concept—explains the unusual idea of planting six linden trees and one red oak at an angle.

One of the first things Neilands passionately points out is: trees matter. And since the square was not built with taxpayers’ money, it could afford to be more unconventional—something “extra,” something that sparks discussion and leaves no one indifferent.

Based on years of experience working with both trees and people, Neilands shares an observation:“I see that trees are something the average Latvian assumes they know about. Everyone thinks they know how to plant a tree. But the truth is, about 90% of trees planted at public clean-up events in Latvia are planted incorrectly. They may look straight, but that’s the only thing done right. Plant them 10 cm too deep, and you’re condemning the tree to a slow death. Yet even a minister—who planted one 30–40 cm too deep—looked me in the eye and said:

That’s why I feel the need to speak, explain, and change this mindset.”

Thus, the leaning lindens and oak in the new square are more than just trees pulled by a magnet. Symbolically, they affirm that Cēsis attracts people, ideas, culture, and nature. “By planting trees at an angle, we provoke society to notice them—and I’m glad that happens. I would be disappointed if no one noticed,” says Neilands.

He hopes that if people are puzzled by leaning trees, they may also start noticing when other trees are planted too deeply, in poor soil, left unwatered, strangled by ties, or damaged by trimmers.

Neilands notes that while such planting practices are not new in the private sector, this is the first time they’ve been done in a Latvian public space. “Cēsis can be proud that it happened here,” he says.

He also reveals a plan to add another interactive feature—a special platform at an invisible angle where people can stand and appear to lean just like the trees. “As if Cēsis had its own unique gravity pulling everything toward the center,” he explains. “People already like to prop up a tree or pretend it’s falling. Now, locals and visitors alike have an extra attraction—to spot the trees, talk about them, think about them, and learn about them.” Neilands concludes that the square “Cēsis Attracts!” is like a small natural science center and a grand experiment. “Now the trees are leaning—but what will they look like in five years? Interest in nature and eco-tourism is growing, and with this new project, Cēsis has pulled a lever. It’s a smart and inexpensive way to give people a living experiment that changes year by year. Instead of visiting Cēsis once to see the castle and cannons, people will return to watch a dynamic installation evolve with time.”

Photos: Aleksis Kļaviņš.