Unearthed: The Radical History of Gardening in Britain

Gardening, often casually considered a leisure activity, has unexpectedly profound roots entwined with social justice, identity, and community healing. Valerie Goode, the founder of the Coco Collective in south London, poignantly remarks, “Being able to grow your own food is one of the most radical ways that you can express your freedom, your sovereignty, your liberation.” Her statement suggests that reclaiming control over food production offers not just nourishment but also empowerment against systemic inequalities. The Coco Collective itself embodies this ethos, transforming a 1,200-square-metre plot of wasteland in Lewisham into a vibrant community space centred around the African diaspora, aiming to heal and educate through direct engagement with the earth.

The intersection of gardening and social activism is further examined in the 'Unearthed: The Power of Gardening' exhibition at the British Library, which runs from May 2 to August 10, 2025. This exhibition showcases not only the practical aspects of gardening but also its historical significance as a vehicle for political expression and communal identity. The narrative of gardening in Britain has been far from straightforward; it has served as a battleground over land rights, access to resources, and cultural heritage. The exhibition curators aim to highlight these complexities. Maddy Smith, the library's curator, reflects, “Gardening is much more than the nation’s favourite pastime; it has quite a fascinating and surprising history.”

The exhibition features a rich array of artifacts, including the only surviving illuminated guide to herbal remedies from Anglo-Saxon England and the earliest gardening manual written in English from 1558. These collections not only illustrate the technical aspects of gardening but also provide a lens through which to view societal changes and challenges over the centuries. Historical items, such as documents from the Diggers and Levellers—17th-century movements advocating for land reform—underscore the long history of contesting land ownership in Britain.

Moreover, the exhibition engages contemporary artists such as Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, whose installation reimagines our relationship with gardens, prompting visitors to consider their environmental and communal roles. The inclusion of films from the Coco Collective adds another layer, showcasing the personal and transformative stories of those involved in gardening today. One participant succinctly stated, "We’ve been growing longer than we’ve been writing books," encapsulating the deep, ancient relationship humans have had with the soil.

Gardening's radicality is further evidenced by its history intertwined with social movements. For instance, the Levenshulme land grabbers of 1906, who cultivated church land for the unemployed, illustrate how gardening has often been a form of protest. Similarly, the exhibition reveals that British gardens have a legacy of being both functional spaces for sustenance and arenas for political expression, challenging our perceptions of what gardens represent.

The curators of the exhibition have deliberately chosen to focus on the stories of diverse populations, aiming to reflect a spectrum of experiences related to gardening. This focus acknowledges that while gardening has often been the domain of the privileged, it has also served as a vital resource for those on the fringes of society. The display highlights the critical role of common land, historically shared by communities, which has frequently been subjected to privatization and enclosure—leading to social unrest across generations.

As visitors walk through the exhibition, they will encounter not just beautiful illustrations and historical texts but also modern commentaries, including Sam Wallman's playful critique of expansive lawns as symbols of control and dominance. Such installations provoke thought about our present-day relationships with cultivated spaces and prompt discussions about ownership, responsibility, and sustainability.

Ultimately, the 'Unearthed' exhibition offers a poignant exploration of gardening as a transformative practice, bridging the gaps between health, community, and environmental stewardship. In a world increasingly aware of the complexities surrounding food production and land use, it serves as a reminder that gardening is not merely a hobby; it is an essential aspect of our collective identity, history, and future pathways towards liberation and empowerment.

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Source: Noah Wire Services