The Green Londoner attended the preview of Unearthed – The Power of Gardening, a brand-new exhibition opening today at the British Library — and yes, we loved it.
Here’s why we think it’s well worth a visit. 🌱
An ode to gardening — universal, personal, political
Gardening is close to our hearts — and to those of millions of people across Britain who sow, plant, prune, harvest, nurture… and grow with their gardens, week after week.
This is a visual, immersive, and accessible exhibition — weaving together historic tools, rare objects, maps, books, drawings, short films, and personal stories. It speaks to both adults and children, without ever feeling overly technical or exclusive.
What stood out to us:
- Its ability to connect past and present, from ancient botanical knowledge to today’s environmental challenges — including pollution, urbanisation, and biodiversity loss.
- Its inclusive approach, shining a light on the colonial history of gardening and the critical contributions of colonised nations to British plant knowledge.
- A strong focus on gardening as a form of social resistance and access to land, especially in cities where access to allotments is limited — a reminder that growing your own food can be both a privilege and an act of resilience.
- A thoughtful journey through the social movements rooted in gardening — from the Diggers and True Levellers of the English Civil War protesting the Enclosure Acts, to the Garden City movement of the early 20th century, and modern-day guerrilla gardeners using seed bombs (arguably the best kind of bomb ever made!) to bring colour to neglected urban corners.
- A compelling narrative on gardening as a response to global crises — whether climate change, pandemics, or food insecurity. One of the exhibition’s more quietly powerful messages is about the joy and meaning of taste — the deep satisfaction that comes from eating something grown through a relationship of care with the plants, soil, and trees that share our space. As a member of Lewisham’s Coco Collective put it: “The Earth can live without us. We can’t live without the natural world around us.”
Personal, collective — and deeply political
Short films made in collaboration with Coco Collective, an Afro-diaspora-led community gardening group in Lewisham, show how gardening is both an intimate practice and a powerful tool for community resilience, wellbeing, and solidarity.
One of the underlying questions posed by the exhibition is deceptively simple:
What does it take to be happy?
Maybe a bit of sun, a seed sprouting, a tomato ripening — and the quiet joy of watching life grow.
Rare finds, fascinating stories
A few standout objects include:
- A rare surviving Wardian case, a 19th-century glass container used to transport live plants across oceans — a revolution in its time. This one is on loan from the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- The only known illustrated herbal remedy book from Anglo-Saxon England (circa 1000–1025), offering a window into early plant-based medicine.
- Portraits of influential British figures who helped spread gardening knowledge — presented with care, humility, and context.
A beautiful finale…
The exhibition closes with a striking installation by Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg: Pollinator Pathmaker.
What makes it unique? It’s designed entirely from the perspective of pollinators — using an algorithm to create gardens that prioritise their needs, not just human preferences. It’s a thoughtful reminder that beauty, in nature, often serves a deeper purpose.
The first two Pollinator Pathmaker editions were launched in 2022 at the Eden Project in Cornwall and Kensington Gardens in London. We recently had the pleasure of hearing Alexandra speak about the project during a roundtable at the Design Museum, where she explored the blend of science, art, and empathy that underpins her work — especially poignant in an era of rapid AI development.
And here’s the best part: you can use the algorithm yourself to create your own living artwork at home. Just input your location and garden size, and it will generate a pollinator-friendly planting scheme tailored to your environment.
Our verdict?
Unearthed is a rich, poetic, and thought-provoking exhibition — perfect for anyone interested in nature, cities, history, justice… or simply the quiet magic of watching something grow.
You’ll leave wanting to get your hands in the soil, reconnect with your environment, and help rewild our cities.
Bonus: The British Library has placed sustainability at the heart of this exhibition. Unearthed is the first of its exhibitions to include full carbon accounting as part of the design and build process. Most of the materials used are bio-based, reusable, or recyclable, aiming to reduce waste and environmental impact wherever possible.
And the experience doesn’t stop there. The Library is also launching a vibrant programme of events in May and June, including:
• Talks with leading writers and thinkers
• The Great Garden Fête (6–7 June) — featuring live music, stalls, and RHS-led workshops
• The Night Garden Party (6 June)
…with more events to be announced soon!
👉 Unearthed: The Power of Gardening runs at the British Library until 10 August 2025.
📸 Full photo review soon on The Green Londoner’s Instagram and Linked
