The Plant Project
A collective of staff and students from Camberwell College of Arts, dedicated to making the college site a greener environment, in alignment with the UAL Climate Action Strategy. They work to transform areas across the site, offering opportunities for the community to get involved whilst addressing problems like declining bee populations and anti-social activities.
Image: © The Plant Project
Key information
- Participants: open to all Staff and Students of Camberwell College of Arts, UAL.
- Duration: the team have been working voluntarily between 2-10 hours per week
- Location: Camberwell College of Arts, UAL.
Launched by staff in 2018 at Camberwell, The Plant Project has evolved from acquiring and maintaining plants in the building, to being an interactive community project involving both students and staff. The project aims to provide a greener experience for everyone who studies, works and visits Camberwell College of Arts. With a phased approach, the collective of now both staff and students, volunteer their time to transform previously neglected areas around the campus into beautiful and well-loved spaces with greenery. This has reduced anti-social activities such as vandalism, littering, and graffiti by 83%.
They have addressed issues like bee population decline and set up plant suppliers for ease of purchase for internal spaces. From workshops and clubs for students, to building connections with nature reserves for future opportunities for the community. This ongoing project has future goals on how this can be replicated across UAL, and is seeking possible government funding, with the hope to hold more regular workshops and clubs for students onsite, alongside much more…
Images: The Plant Project makeover of meeting room. © The Plant Project
Through community organisation this project is continuing to grow and develop benefiting both staff and students at Camberwell. The initial team of 4 staff started by acquiring and maintaining plants both inside and outside of the building, with 217 plants recorded by 2022. It runs with a team 9 volunteer staff who donate up to 10 hours of their time each week.
The plans for the future of the project require further funding and this is being sought both internally at UAL, and externally via government funds. With plans to document and have a digital community via social media, host regular planting workshops, develop further planting related clubs, and create a working dye garden.
Contact
James Dawodu, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL – j.dawodu@arts.ac.uk.
Tony Lee, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL – t.lee@camberwell.arts.ac.uk.
Neal Moonstone, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL – n.moonstone@camberwell.arts.ac.uk.
Adamina Turek, Camberwell College of Arts, UAL – a.turek@camberwell.arts.ac.uk.