We are imagining an arts centre as a garden, where multisensory and sentient ecology of plants, people and creatures support one another through mutually beneficial relationships.
We have over three acres of grounds, including mature woodland, hedgerows, food growing plots and accessible lawns. Everyone is welcome to spend time here to explore wildlife, habitats, and the ecology of ideas, as well as play and picnic.
We’re continuously developing our diverse use of this space through vegetable growing, seed sharing, carbon storage, gardening workshops, wild meadows, habitat creation, outdoor art classes, forest school sessions, community dinners, events and festivals, performances, volunteer opportunities, children’s activities and more.
Engaging with the artists who work in the building we have utilised waste fleece from felt making classes as a mulch in the garden, added pottery mushrooms to deter deer from the veg patch and waste ombre (yeast, water and flour) from a raku workshop was added to the compost pile to feed the microbes.
Tutors and students are encouraged to use the grounds, drawing classes regularly bring flowers and leaves in from the garden as inspiration for their pictures.
Volunteers have established Dye and Fibre beds within the garden, and harvest from them as the plants are ready.
We have reduced the amount of grass cutting that takes place in the garden, with the establishing meadow, and a steep reduction in the number of grass cuts per year. This allows lawn flowers like daisies to flower and provide nectar for longer and reduces the carbon footprint of the garden maintenance.
Garden volunteers are welcome to join our Garden for the Future sessions on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. Volunteers of any age, experience or ability are welcome to join in with gardening, growing and environmental activities.
