:::::PROJECTS:::::
Open Return Gardens
Weston super Mare Train Station, on-going
A COMMUNITY GARDEN FOR WESTON TRAIN STATION
Taster session will take place during March 2024 where we will begin to make plans and preparations for the growing seasons ahead.
The aim is to establish the garden into a thriving space and engage local communities to join regular growing and gardening sessions to benefit from being out in nature, and support the on-going development and maintenance of the garden.
This project is supported by Severnside Rail Partnership, and Healthier with Nature.
HOW IT STARTED
In the winter of 22/23, we embarked upon a new project with the vision of turning a scrap of neglected land on platform two of Weston super Mare train station into a community garden and growing space for staff and passengers to enjoy. For this initial period, we worked with women from the South West community payback scheme to clear the site and begin the journey.
The area has a number of mature trees and shrubs already in place which we will design and develop the garden around. We will incorporate a combination of native wild flowers, and perennial plants, alongside growing edible plants, vegetables and herbs for people to pick and take away with them.
Lighthouse Garden
Weston super Mare Train Station forecourt, Spring 2023
A new Horticultural Artwork located on the forecourt of Weston super Mare train station welcomes visitors to the town. Alight the train and be greeted by an alive, green, and visually dazzling artwork that lights up at night.
Drawing inspiration from the coastal landscape of WsM, the artwork looks out to sea across to Flat Holm Island’s lighthouse, which incorporates a solar-powered lighting system that lights up at night. With seated planters filled with seasonal plants and herbs, for passengers to sit and enjoy while they wait for their train to arrive.
Created by Grow Feral, Andy Jacobs, Hot Soup House
and supported by Severnside Community Rail Partnership, GWR, and Culture Weston.
Grow Feral: Horticultural Installation
Italian Gardens, WsM, summer 2022
A horticultural artwork and community micro garden constructed from mostly recycled timber and repurposed materials, designed by artist Jo Lathwood.
Three corrugated roofs provide shelter and act as rain catchers to funnel water into a freestanding water tower which can hold 350 liters. The hexagonal planters are drip fed the rain water through a solar powered irrigation system which is 90% more efficient than watering the plants with a watering can or hose.
The community garden is open to all to learn more about plants all year around, with a changing array of plants throughout the different seasons. The plants are a mixture of ornamental and edible species for everyone to enjoy.
This installation looks into how we can be more sustainable and use technology in a positive way to be more resourceful and sensitive to the environment. We hope it provides a place for relaxation, contemplation whilst sending a positive environmental message.
This is a collaborative project between Grow Feral and Jo Lathwood and is the second phase of the Grow Feral micro garden - the first iteration of half the size, was created in 2021 as part of an Arts Council England funded project commissioned by Culture Weston. This new expanded version was part of a series of sessions part funded by a Green Social Prescribing grant from North Somerset Council.
Osprey Sensory Garden
Osprey Community Allotments, summer 2022
SEE / FEEL / HEAR / SENSE / TASTE
Sensory gardens incorporate an array of different features, surfaces, objects and plants that stimulate the senses through touch, sight, scent, taste and hearing.
A small committed group of regulars at the Osprey Community Allotments came together to transform an overgrown area tucked away at the back of the allotment site to design, create, make, shape, plan and plant a whole new sensory garden area as a space of calm and wellbeing in nature for all that use the space to benefit from.
During these sessions, we dug in two new ponds, and created a bog garden to create habitats to encourage insects and other creatures to take up residency there. We built a fantastic shelter from reclaimed wood and stained glass windows that overlooks the garden as a space for contemplation. We created a herb garden, and several growing areas for flowers, grasses and some edible species.
Participants learnt about different plants for the senses, and we sourced the majority of the plants from our day trip to the brilliant Grow Wilder nursery in Bristol who specialise in native and wild plant species.
We also got creative with different mediums and natural materials including wood to create borders and pathways, cut willow to create fencing, repurposed scrap materials to create sound-making sculptures, and reclaimed tiles to create a collaborative mosaic totem that takes centre space in the sensory garden.
Plant Kit Vending Machines
various locations around WsM summer 2021-22
Grow Feral plant kits were developed out of summer workshop sessions, and include a hand-gathered pot-luck, wild seed pack, a one-off botanical plant print, and a small green poem created by workshop participants.
The kits are available for £1 via customised wall-based Vending Machines located around Weston super Mare - whilst stocks last!
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Bato Kunku
Autumn 2020 - Summer 21
Osprey Outdoors took on the long established, yet abandoned community allotment site of 12 plots at Rectors Way allotments in Weston super Mare during lockdown. Once restrictions had lifted, a team of volunteers got busy establishing the new allotment site drawing upon permaculture principles.
A few of us led the way to transform a long unused poly tunnel with solidly compacted heavy clay soil to develop an exotic, creative space that attempted to grow produce originating from outside the UK, that we named ‘Bato Kunku’ - Gambian for ‘farm by the sea’. Amongst other things, we grew a wide range of chillies, melons, tomatillos, physalis, cucamelons, callaloo, and even had a go at trying to grow snake gourds to varying successes, yet with great fun trying.
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