Room 7: Garden

This room documents a connection to the natural world, to green spaces and civic landscapes. The garden is a site of connection to land, nature and food. A garden might be a private or shared space, connecting to the street outside and the world beyond home. During the pandemic, an increased awareness has been placed on biodiversity, climate and food systems. Many have reported experiencing a more intense appreciation of and connection to the natural world and its benefits for health, wellbeing and the ability to heal from illness.

01: A garden in Swansea created by refugees during lockdown.

02: A family grew vegetables and kept chickens during lockdown.

03: Observing nature during lockdown.

04: Observing nature during lockdown.

05: Kevin Delgado and his family are asylum seekers from El Salvador living in Swansea, Wales.

Like any other day,
My mind full of thoughts,
I was sitting on the steps of my veranda,
Staring at the plant pot,
I was thinking where is happiness?
Staring at the pot
I realised that seeds are sprouting:
Tiny fragile little two leaved plants.

That very moment I heard a whisper,
I was told that this is happiness!
Tiny, very little and fragile.
Not very strong all the time,
Needs nurture and care
Like those little plants.

Happiness is not what I wait for,
It is not grand.
It as little as those plants
Can even be smaller.

It’s in the smile of an old lady in grocery store,
It is in the wave to you of an unknown baby in the park,
Or in a day when you may not achieve anything at all
but it passed without problem.

06: A Whisper, by Maria Shafayat

07. Observing nature during lockdown.

08: In lockdown Ruth, a Venezuelan migrant in Wales, has been gardening and growing vegetables for the first time in the UK.

These flowers withered years ago
In the years and years that have condemned us
when my time comes, I will answer the call.
bury me in my house, my front door key a simple shovel
Although in their eyes we are but weeds,
the wheel turns as I negotiate the bends

When we think it is all over, fate will hit us harder than before
Once god has blessed us no one can harm us any more
But, well, yes, these flowers withered years ago.

09: These Flowers, by Dino.

ça fait des années que les fleurs ont fané.
ça fait des années qui nous ont condamné.
quand mon heure va sonner je répondrai à l'appel.
enterrer moi à ma maison la clef de chez-moi sera une simple pelle.
quoiqu'on été à leurs yeux des sarclages.
la roue tourne je négocie les virages.

quand on croira que c'est fini le destin nous frappera encore plus fort.
quand dieu nous aura bénit personne ne pourra nous causer du tort .
eh , oui . ça fait des années que les fleures ont fané.

09: These Flowers, by Dino.

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