Know Your Wildflowers

A new Digital Wildflower ID Booklet created by Hannah Brackston

 

Barrow’s natural assets are celebrated through creative workshops with local primary schools and the creation of a Digital Wildflower ID booklet ‘Know Your Wildflowers’ by artist Hannah Brackston. 

Hannah Brackston, Art Gene’s Allotment Soup Project Artist, has created a Digital Wildflower ID Booklet which will help inform people about the importance of our local and coastal wildflowers which can be found at the Isle of Walney Community Growing Space. Hannah worked with pupils from three Barrow schools and volunteers to develop the digital publication.

‘Know your Wildflowers’ is available to view below as a resource for teachers and anyone who wants to learn about our important local wildflowers. Alongside the children’s artworks are drawings and photographs of over 40 wildflowers found on the Community Growing Space, including some unusual facts, traditional or medicinal uses for the plants and the origins of its colloquial name.

 

Click the image below to view the full publication: 

Above: Wildflower Artwork by Year 6 St Columba’s Catholic Primary School, poster by Hannah Brackston

 

Pupils from North Walney Primary School, St James C of E Junior School and St Columba’s Catholic Primary School all participated in day long workshops. The pupils spent the morning on the Isle of Walney Community Growing Space, discovering different wildflower species which can be found on the site, exploring folklore and poetry inspired by wildflowers, making prints and learning to identify different plants including the rare, indigenous Walney Geranium. Back at school the pupils created detailed drawings and watercolour paintings depicting different wildflowers. Their drawings have also been turned into a botanical style poster, and each child will receive a copy of their work to keep.

Wildflowers are vitally important as food for pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies, helping to keep the soil healthy. Species such as the Walney Geranium are native to the area. Some insects have adapted over time to specialise by only feeding from of certain species, for instance the Kidney Vetch is the sole food plant for the Small Blue Butterfly.

This project is part of Art Gene’s ‘Re-wilding Barrow’ project, with the aim of promoting the importance of our local wildlife, and educating the community about how to care for coastal species. The Borough of Barrow has been rated first in England for the quality and quantity of its natural assets (RSA Heritage index est. 2016). The project champions the amazing variety of wildlife on our doorstep, and aims to link the amazing landscapes and Communities of Walney, Barrow and Furness.

Find out how you or your group can get involved contact Landscape Engagement Coordinator, Eve Mulholland, on eve.mulholland@art-gene.co.uk or call 01229 825085.

 

This project has been kindly funded by Grow Wild through funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. 

 

Below: St James C of E Junior School pupils taking part in Wildflower Workshops with Hannah Brackston & Eve Mulholland, photo by Lucy Sherwood