The Bobeam Tree
17 Feb – 14 June
FREE
Lowry, has linked up with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood and the National Portrait Gallery to bring the magical Bobeam Tree to the North West.
Lowry is welcoming children under 5 with their families, nurseries or schools to experience this playful and imaginative installation, designed for the early years, from Tuesday 17th February to Sunday 14th June 2026.
The programme is inspired by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood’s Shaping Us Framework, which highlights the importance of nurturing social and emotional skills in the early years. This period, from pregnancy to the age of five, is when brains develop fastest and are most receptive to external influences. The foundations laid during this time help to shape the rest of our lives.
The Bobeam Tree is a magical tree which - so the story goes - grows when surrounded by children’s imaginations and stories.
It comes to Salford direct from the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA), before moving on to Sheffield and across the UK.
Features of the Bobeam Tree Trail
- Baby Explorer packs (0-2 years) filled with simple sensory activities to support early engagement.
- A playful trail of ‘Jack the Dog’ models will begin at the Bobeam Tree and continue throughout the Galleries. Each stop on the trail features a different sensory element, designed to support early development by encouraging children to explore, observe and talk about the LS Lowry collection. Jack the Dog is inspired by the small, bright-eyed dog that appears in LS Lowry’s 1959 watercolour Group of People - a tiny figure tucked among the crowd, full of quiet character and curiosity. He acts as a playful bridge between LS Lowry’s artwork, and the imaginative adventures children can enjoy within the Galleries.
Whilst at Lowry why not visit our amazing family spaces. Head up to The Lookout for some creative activities and role play fun. Visit to the Little Lowry Kitchen in the Bar and Restaurant where your budding cook can play chef. Or take a quite moment in the Book Nook to read a book together and share some stories, you’ll even find a little version of our building there!
The Bobeam Tree was first unveiled as part of a special trail opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales at the National Portrait Gallery in 2025 and is now on tour to a select number of museums and galleries across the UK.
Galleries and museums around the UK are creating their own trails and experiences around the Tree to help babies and young children connect with their collections - in this case the LS Lowry collection.
To find out more including activities to try at home, visit the National Portrait Gallery website.