A new art exhibit is being shown at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History to celebrate and raise awareness of Britain’s floodplain meadows.
The exhibit will be open until the end of October and is part of an Open University (OU) project working to conserve, restore and protect Britain’s floodplain meadows.
The Floodplain Meadows Partnership, led by academics from The Open University, was launched in 2006. The aim of the partnership is to demonstrate the value of functioning meadows, increase public appreciation of them and advocate for their restoration as a tool in tackling climate change.
These habitats are valued for their ability to store and cleanse flood waters, store carbon, and trap nutrients and sediments. They are fragile and complex ecological systems, that require careful management to ensure they can deliver environmental benefits to society.
Creating the Marvellous Meadow
Over the course of three weeks in May 2023, community groups, attendees of the Floodplain Meadow Partnership conference, and families visiting the Museum of Natural History, all worked with artist Alice Walker to weave, draw, write, colour and craft elements and species of the floodplain meadows.
The Marvellous Meadow artwork comprises of three woven panels representing earth (soil); meadow (plants) & water (river). The artwork was started by members of the Farmability group at Long Mead meadow, continued by attendees at the Floodplain Meadows Partnership conference and completed by over 270 children and families visiting the museum during May half term.
Olivia Nelson, Floodplain Meadows Partnership Advocacy Officer, said:
“We were delighted to work with both Alice and the Museum on such a beautiful, fun and creative way to engage people with the story of floodplain meadows and the work of the Floodplain Meadow Partnership. Our thanks also to Judith Purcell and the William Dean Trust for their generous support of this project.
“The purpose of the art workshops and the resulting artwork was to raise awareness; to highlight the role and importance needs and threats; to celebrate the heritage and ‘eco services’; and to inspire and invite engagement and advocacy of the floodplain meadows.
“For the families and other visitors who contributed to the artwork, it was the first time they had heard about floodplain meadows and it was a great opportunity to learn about their role and importance.”
Get involved
The Floodplain Meadows Partnership is now working with Plantlife and a coalition of other organisations such as the National Trust, Wildlife Trusts and Buglife to help everyone recognise and support species-rich grasslands. They hope to do this through better-focused public policy and funding, and are calling for the UK Government to commit to developing a Grassland Action Plan for England.
Olivia added:
“Whilst these days most floodplain meadows are managed either privately or by public bodies you can still contribute to help care for, understand, and bring back to life these precious places. There are many ways you can get involved whether that’s helping with monitoring, practical management or mapping work. Visit our website to see how you can get involved and sign up for our newsletters.”
Photo by Alice Walker
