MIND THE GAP: Soil Culture Bridging Horticulture and Ecology

Scouse Flowerhouse, established as a young Community Benefit Society and member of Coops UK, is linking the talent and passion of Merseyside’s community gardeners with wildflower ecological landscapes and cornfield annuals in public realm. In doing so, we are opening up creative conversations and skills transfer between grass-roots food growers, seed swappers and botanists with some of the UK’s best horticulturalists.

This Masterclass will draw on thoughts about the intersection between private gardens and public realm from Alasdair Moore, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Sean Harkin, Temple Inn Court and previously Manchester City Gardener, and Dr Sylvia Travers, Head of Horticulture at Haigh Hall.

Guided by Richard Scott, Chair of the UK Urban Ecology Forum, Liverpool community gardeners will share the UK and international gardens which inspire us. Liverpool’s 1984 International Garden Festival was a game-changer for the City, and as a port city, Liverpool remains a vibrant place for cultural exchange. Richard has championed the Cultural Soil Charter supported by CIEEM (Chartered Institute for Ecological & Environmental Management).

As well as some quick fire presentations and exchanges, with top UK gardeners, visitors will be taken on a tour of wildflower spaces, a mix of soil inversion perennial meadows, biochar/carbon capture wildflower sites, public parks and street corners. Seeing is believing!

Discussion on the importance of boldness, aka Christopher Lloyd, and “heart and soul principles”, and how we can better Mind the Gap to sensibilise people to nature on their doorsteps, will all feature as part of the day.We look forward to welcoming you to the Museum of Liverpool on 30th May 2024. Please confirm registration by close of play on 23rd May. Please email [email protected] with any dietary or access requirements or general queries.

Host or Publisher Scouse Flowerhouse