Busy times!

A lot has happened since our last post, and we have had a busy summer and early autumn. Along with several other green spaces and gardens in the city centre, the Derek Jarman Pocket Park entered the North West It’s Your Neighbourhood strand of the RHS annual Britain in Bloom campaign. Although gardens are visited by RHS judges, there is no competition between gardens.  The campaign aims to bring communities together and support people in making a positive change to their local environment.

All the volunteers along with several of the Gallery staff worked hard to prepare the garden for the judges’ visit, which took place in July.  We were delighted to meet the two judges, one from Britain in Bloom and local judge, Jason Williams aka The Cloud Gardener.  It was a pleasure to meet both and if you haven’t already come across Jason’s work and passion for urban small space gardening, we recommend having a look at his website and social media https://cloudgardeneruk.co.uk/

Jason Williams, Cloud Gardener © 2021 Cloud Gardener UK – All Rights Reserved

Both judges quizzed us about the history of the Derek Jarman Pocket Park and how we hope to continue developing it both horticulturally and as a community resource. We also got a chance to pick their brains as well, which was very useful and inspiring.  We had to wait a few months for the feedback and scoring from the judges but we’re very pleased to announce that we were awarded Level 4 Thriving, the second highest level.

The Derek Jarman Pocket Park, August 2024

In August, for the third year running, we welcomed visitors to the Pocket Park over Manchester Pride weekend.  Alongside the partying and Parade, the garden and gallery offered a contrasting experience where people could relax and appreciate the quieter side of Pride!  This year visitors took part in a sketching workshop in the garden, inspired by the range of foliage and flowers along with some beautiful live music performed by Holly Marland and Teresa Lipinski. Holly and Teresa performed a range of songs from different cultures and countries and delivered a singing workshop, Teresa singing and Holly accompanying her on the Kora, a traditional West African harp.  Fortunately, the rain held off for most of the afternoon!

Teresa Lipinski (left) and Holly Marland (right)

Creative workshop in the Derek Jarman Pocket Park during Pride weekend and the shelter.

There was also an in-conversation between artist Jez Dolan and photographer Gilbert McCarragher, a friend and neighbour of Derek Jarman in Dungeness. Gilbert had exclusive access to photograph Prospect Cottage, a vital artwork in its own right and the inspiration for our garden and black and yellow wooden shelter. It was the first time this private world had been so extensively chronicled. Unfolding room by room, McCarragher’s new book includes beautiful photographs which are accompanied by reflective essays that take the reader inside Prospect Cottage, revealing something of its history and his experience of photographing there.

In September we were very pleased to be invited to contribute to the So Many Beauties Dementia Friendly Festival that took place at the Bridgewater Hall.  So Many Beauties is an amazing organisation working in Greater Manchester and lead by Holly Marland using ‘the power of music to bring people together and change lives.’   Projects focus on working co-creatively within health and social care communities, creating new pieces of music with public performances that challenge stigmas and stereotypes, giving opportunities for individuals to feel heard, valued by and connected with others. We had our own stall at the festival and our very own Mindy delivered a dancing performance live on stage!

Mindy takes to the stage at Bridgewater Hall for So Many Beauties festival

In the lead up to the festival we worked with Caro C, an electronic music maker and sound artist, to create a soundscape. Caro spent time recording sounds in the Pocket Park and our conversations to capture what the garden means to each of us.  From this range of audio recordings, we created an atmospheric sound installation that was initially launched in the garden over Pride weekend, before featuring in the Healthy Brain Space at the So Many Beauties festival.

Caro devised an interactive installation for the festival, in which plants and gardening tools were linked via wires, crocodile clips and a digital sound desk to specific parts of the soundscape. By touching each plant or tool, people were able to create their own versions of the soundscape.  It was a fascinating way of combining the garden itself with sounds and thereby creating unique pieces of music and sound art.

The interactive soundscape at So Many Beauties festival. Photos by Chris Payne

The original soundscape, created by Caro C and the Derek Jarman Pocket Park volunteers, is called We’re Still Here. Next time you visit the pocket park, look out for the QR code that links to it, sit back and enjoy!  Alternatively, you can listen to the soundscape here; https://soundcloud.com/manchester-art-gallery/derek-jarman-pocket-park-soundscape

Over the winter period we’ll continue to maintain the garden and we’ll be adding new bulbs so that the garden blooms with colour in the Spring.

Hazel Errey

Photos by Mindy Meleyal unless otherwise shown.

Supporters

The Derek Jarman Pocket Park is supported by The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Pocket Parks, Pride in Ageing at the LGBT Foundation Manchester, The IGNITION Project, Royal Horticultural Society, Exterior Architecture, The Postcode Lottery Trust, Manchester Wellbeing Fund and United Utilities.