Metal welcomed the Gold medal winning garden back from RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show with an afternoon of music and poetry performances, craft demonstrations and gardening tips to celebrate the launch of a new green space for the city. Designed by artist Jeni Cairns and Sophie Antonelli of Green Backyard. Performances by: Keely Mills, Kerry Devine, Moony Opaque, Tom Fox, David Pleasance and more. Watch this space for more acts as they are announced.
About the garden:
Metal has been collaborating with garden designer Jeni Cairns and community gardener Sophie Antonelli from The Green Backyard to design a new green space at Chauffeurs Cottage. The garden includes edible grow zone, tables and chairs for meetings and workshops, planters and a stage area for performances by local artists and community groups. The space is created from recycled and repurposed materials. In July the garden was launched at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Metal worked with Jeni and funding from Creative Peterborough to programme the garden with some of the best creative talent from Peterborough. The garden went on to win Gold, Best in category for Summer Gardens and was highlighted by BBC presenter Monty Don as his most favourite thing in the show. In the weeks prior to 7th September, the garden will be being installed back at its home, Chauffeurs Cottage as a new and exciting space for use by the local community – a Space to Connect and Grow. This launch event celebrates the gardens re-introduction to the city, with performances and demonstrations by some of our best artists.
Performers included:
Moony Opaque
Watch a clip of Moony performing here.
Kerry Devine
Watch a clip of Kerry performing here.
Keely Mills
Keely Mills was the Poet Laureate of Peterborough for 2009, and still advocates and supports the cracking poetry scene both locally and nationally. She has performed at many different events and venues from the Houses of Parliament, outdoor festivals to WI luncheons. She has been described as ‘Dawn French on acid’ and ‘the pick and mix at Woolworths’ with a style more Richard Pryor than Pam Ayres.
David Pleasance
Listen to some of David’s music here.
Tom Fox
Tom is a local actor, musician and improviser who has performed in Peterborough for many years.
Isiah
Watch a clip of Isiah performing here.
Jeni Cairns
Jeni Cairns is a local artist and garden designer from Coates, Whittelsey. Jeni won premier gold at Harrogate Flower Show before being invited to submit designs for a summer garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Her fine art background is evident in her beautiful designs and her innovative use of reclaimed materials. She recycles and repurposes materials to create unique outdoor spaces that do not have to cost the earth. www.juniperhousegardendesign.com
Sophie Antonelli
Sophie Antonelli is a community gardener and wild activist. Sophie co-founded The Green Backyard with her father Renny Antonelli. Sophie is passionate about sustainability and works to raise awareness of environmental issues by involving the community in informative, practical demonstrations and workshops.
The Green Backyard is a vibrant community growing project in the heart of Peterborough, which was established in 2009 and is run entirely by volunteers. From their urban space, across the road from the Peterborough United football ground, they have transformed a once derelict former allotment site into a beautiful and productive community allotment that is open to everyone. The Green Backyard works with many different individuals and groups, as well as various schools, businesses and other organisations from across Peterborough and beyond.
Gareth Richards
Gareth Richards is a horticulturist and garden journalist who’s been living and working in Peterborough since March 2013. Currently he is an Online Editor for the Royal Horticultural Society’s website. Prior to that he worked as a plantsman / designer in a private garden in Provence, as a horticultural researcher for BBC Gardeners’ World and ITV’s Love Your Garden. He is a passionate ‘allotmenteer’ and can generally be found outside tending his plot whenever possible.”
With thanks to our sponsors for helping make this garden happen.