As Artist in Residence for Left Coast since April 2025, I’ve been working in Revoe, Blackpool on and around the site of an old pub which was demilished a few years ago.
The residency is in an area designated for redevelopment and there is a great deal of uncertainty about the future and feelings of despondency among some local residence.
The area where the George Hotel once stood has now become a community green, a common space for people to meet and come together.
Over the first part of my residency I have been looking at the pioneer plants which have established themselves in this rubble ground.
The precariousness of the area means that art-making is challenging but also that the community is very open to, and interested in the project.
As I began to survey the rough ground and engaged with people there, I realised that there was a real interest in the medicinal qualities of the so called ‘weeds’ growing there.
I ran simple sessions making seed bombs, calendula cream, sleep pillows and even strawberry jam and jam tarts! I also let a forage walk around the local area.
All of this then led to the creation of a zine, ‘Pioneers of Revoe’, which told the story of the plants with recipies and drawings of the seagulls, pioneer plants and the old pub.
As my initial Residency came to an end I made a proposal for the community to create a Medicinal garden in Revoe, on the site of the old pub, and I was invited to continue the work, which felt as though it had only just got started!
‘Medicine from the Rubble’, the second phase of my Residency with Left Coast is now four or five months in. There has been lots of activity with monthly Plant Medicine sessions, Seed Planting and woodwork sessions to build the planters and even a ‘Nettle Soup making’ demonstration for Blackpool Restaurant week.
There are now ongoing discussions and thoughts around re-opening the pub / botanical bar for a special event in early June so there’s more medicine to come.
