Exploring the healing power of gardens through art
Community groups, artists and charities have been exploring how herbals are represented in contemporary communities through the healing power of gardening and plants
Community groups based in London and Surrey were both given the same title, ‘A Modern Day Herbal’, and the same overarching aim of creating an exhibition representing stories through creative responses. Through a series of workshops, and with the support of two RHS Community Outreach Advisors and two local artists, it was up to them to interpret the herbal theme in their own way.
Differing interpretations of a shared theme
Lewisham community group on a tour of the RHS Lindley Library
Their journey included a tour of the collections at RHS Lindley Library in London, where they found inspiration in botanical illustrators including Elizabeth Blackwell, who published ‘A Curious Herbal’ in the 1700s. Predating modern scientific medicine, these types of botanical encyclopedia often contained elements of myth and magic. The herbals that were used can be viewed via the RHS Digital Collections.
Lewisham community groups take part in workshops which included activities such as natural dyeing
The group learn about plants growing at the Walton Charity allotment
Meanwhile, in southeast London, textile artist Alice Burnhope and RHS Community Development Officer Alice Cornwell worked with participants from several community gardens in Lewisham. Their workshops, held in various locations including the RHS Wellbeing Garden at University Hospital Lewisham, Cockpit Studio in Deptford and the Horniman Museum, covered natural dyeing, Suffolk puff making and rope making. These techniques were used to express the healing power of plants in their art. Their exhibition, which ran over four days in a socially engaged art gallery in the Borough of Lewisham, included free textile technique and horticulture workshops. The immersive space featured natural dye fabric panels designed and made by the community co-creators, showcasing the newly learned techniques. There was also an artistic representation of Lewisham, mapping out the different corners of nature around the borough and encouraging exhibition visitors to add their own pin to the map.
The exhibition ran over four days in an art gallery in the Borough of Lewisham
Close-up of the natural dye fabric panels designed and made by the community co-creators
The final result
Using the art form Hapa Zome, the community groups selected plants and flowers to create a paper print
The Walton community group visit the RHS Herbarium at RHS Wisley
“Both displays are a celebration of nature’s enduring ability to heal and inspire,” says Fiona Davison, RHS Head of Libraries and Exhibitions.
A national collection
The work will become part of a national collective response titled ‘A Modern Day Herbal’, which will be added to the RHS Lindley Library in 2026. A third project, facilitated by the Yorkshire-based RHS Community Outreach team, in collaboration with a local cultural partner, will also contribute to this collection.
The exhibitions and workshops have been supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Kusuma Trust and Oak Foundation, as part of RHS Gardens of Imagination. The project aims to celebrate and share new stories about gardening, horticulture and the RHS’ unique collections between by working with artists in residence. Read about last year’s ‘What is a weed?’ project.
