Working with Springburn Winter Gardens Trust on their ‘Living Ruin, Urban Croft’ initiative, as a Community Engagement Artist, I designed and led the garden’s creative, regeneration project. A series of creative wanderings, conservation activities, nature surveys, clear ups and gardening activities took place between December 2024 and June 2025. Bringing together heritage, conservation and creativity, we imagined together how a garden could grow and flourish again in the winter gardens, in it’s present tense together. Following permaculture principles, we carefully observed the site, surveying formed habitats to protect what was already living and thriving within the winter gardens. Spring foraging walks took place with Herbal Homestead, learning the edibles and medicinal plants to eat and enjoy. A mini orchard was planted with apple, pear and cherry trees - as free food for the future - with support from Propagate Glasgow.
care monthly litter picks and clear ups with the local community
conservation planting a fruit tree mini orchard, creating shelter for birds and insects
creative wanderings gentle walks with bio-blitzing and nature surveys
guerilla gardening gardening sessions with local residents, planting flowers and herbs for activation
heritage one to one walks, with local residents, recording personal stories as oral histories
imagination imagination sessions with drawing and mapping ideas
young stewards working Balornock primary school eco-committee, designing bird boxes for nesting blue tits
The project culminated with a seeding stories event, celebrating the past and seeding plans for the future. With insect and plant observation walks with RSPB Glasgow and talks with Glasgow Seed Library around seed sovereignty. A temporary installation was hung from the site, with memories of place and desired vegetable seeds to plant within the soil for next year.
