CCI artists Filipa Pereira-Stubbs and Sally Todd had already worked with four classes from Morley Primary School to think together on this question - how this space at the back of the library can be a friendly one for both nature and the people of all ages who might want to spend time out there? Secret spaces, treasure collecting, portals and tunnels – these were a few of the ideas we had shared with willow artist Debbie Hall who then worked these into her extraordinary creations for the library staircase and fence, brilliantly supported by 15 volunteers at various times in her making days. Offering a dramatic entrance to the garden now, they also encourage other ways to look out on the garden space and provide playful options for displaying new work or treasure collections.
The willow work can be visited at any time in the garden.
"The friendly garden project has been a brilliant opportunity for our children to see their ideas and creativity represented in their local community beyond the school gates. By being involved in the creation of the garden not only have they had the chance to work with artists to inspire them but they also feel a sense of ownership of that space and regularly comment to teachers on what they see happening in ‘their’ garden on their way to school. The library profile has been raised and our children and families are using the facilities in ways which they may not have done previously. As one child said ‘ I love our very own secret garden.
If community assets such as libraries are to survive in time of such austerity and cuts they need to become places which are owned and used by local people and I think this project has been a great way of doing that."
Nikki Brown, Headteacher, Morley Primary School
Further information about the work of Friends is here.
The project was made possible by a S106 Public Art Grant from Cambridge City Council.
