SOUTH WEST IN BLOOM; FIRST STEPS
The planting around the Miner was completed over 3 days.
The first step on day 1 was for the Group volunteers to knock on doors in the immediate vicinity and advise residents of the work proposed. Very positive engagement was received from residents that were at home. They were reassured that the work was being done with all the necessary permissions and consents from the various stakeholders and would be done over a series of visits, with every effort made to leave the site as tidy as possible. The fear of passersby, that the Miner was being dug up and removed, was emphatically rejected! The exact same messages were shared alongside three Facebook Posts on the village Facebook page.
Day 1 was essentially preparation, with two of the group marking out a circle around the base of the Miner and the turf turned over.
Day 2 saw possibly the hardest work, with welcome help (for the two volunteers) coming from the Paul Radnedge, Parish Councillor who has responsibility for the village allotments. The turf clods were worked on, so that the earth was separated from the turf and returned to the plot. The earth was then prepped, ready for the compost and planting and the turf itself taken to the allotment, for recycling.
Day 3, the two volunteers returned to the Site with compost and plants. The organising group had decided to simply use three grasses in the collection;
1. Ophiopogon Nigrescens x 10 (black in colour)
2. Sesleria Caerulia x 4 (blue, looks a little greenish)
3. Carex Oshimensis Everillo (yellow)
In addition, to the common planting objective of nice aesthetics, these colours were chosen, as they were closest to and/or in keeping with, elements one might consider synonymous with mining:
Each of the three above have early shoots that are green, which could be said to represent the matter from which the coal was formed.
The black could, obviously, symbolise the coal seams, but also the darkness underground.
The blue might symbolise the water that would need to have been pumped out of the shafts, before they could be worked.
Together, these colours and their unforgiving texture might reflect the general, brutal conditions the miners had to work in.
Finally, the yellow. Whilst this might seem too stark a contrast, this single plant has been chosen and specifically positioned in the plot, so as to represent the glow from the Davey Lamp. An attempt was made to position it behind the lamp glass itself, so one could look through, but it wasn’t high enough.
After planting, the compost was added and the plants watered in.
At the end of each day’s work, photos and a summary of progress was posted on the village Facebook page. Day 3’s final post included the explanation above of the rationale behind the planting. Looking forward, to the Autumn, it is hoped that yellow crocuses will be added, to symbolise the generic practice of using canaries to check the atmospherics.
Residents were, however, invited to interpret all this in line with their own associations, or indeed, not associate at all, and just like the planting in their own way. The important thing is that the Miner, and hence mining and its importance, continues to be spoken of and is remembered.
Finally it was stressed to residents that the site belongs to all in the village and they were invited to participate further. If they are passing and see a weed, they should feel free to pluck it out and if the plants need a drink, to water them, if they can.
Residents can find out more about the activities at the July 21st Pollinator Party in the Memorial Hall.
Words and pictures by Sara and Mark Price.