Step into Leeds Central Library’s wondrous “Unearthed: The Power of Gardening” exhibition, where over 500 years of horticultural history blossoms before your eyes, featuring rare gardening manuals like John Gerard’s The Herball and interactive multimedia installations. This captivating display, running until October 29, invites you to explore the profound impact of gardening on British culture and even contribute your own cherished stories to The Speaking Garden.
What is featured in Leeds Central Library’s ‘Unearthed: The Power of Gardening’ exhibition?
Leeds Central Library’s ‘Unearthed: The Power of Gardening’ exhibition showcases over 500 years of horticultural heritage, including rare illustrated gardening manuals, immersive multimedia installations, and opportunities for visitors to contribute their own stories, highlighting the lasting impact of gardening on British culture and community.
Seeds of Knowledge: Five Centuries of Horticultural Heritage
Gardening has long been a cherished pursuit, weaving together generations through shared expertise and a love for nature’s bounty. Leeds Central Library’s new exhibition, Unearthed: The Power of Gardening, offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore more than 500 years of horticultural history. The exhibition showcases the enduring impact of gardening on British life, highlighting its transformative role in thousands of lives both past and present.
A centerpiece of the exhibition is a collection of exquisitely illustrated manuals authored by some of history’s most influential horticulturalists. These rare books encapsulate centuries of advice on cultivating healthy fruit, vibrant vegetables, and fragrant herbs, providing a rich source of knowledge for contemporary gardeners. Among the most notable works is a copy of The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes by John Gerard, a renowned Elizabethan herbalist. This seminal text meticulously catalogues the names, properties, and uses of every plant known to Western botany during the late 16th century, and is rumoured to have influenced William Shakespeare’s own writing.
Another highlight is Batty Langley’s New Principles of Gardening, penned in 1728. Langley’s treatise is celebrated for its detailed instructions on applying geometric principles to garden design and for its in-depth advice on fruit tree cultivation. The library is currently seeking public support to restore this treasured volume, allowing it to be preserved for future generations. Donations can be made here.
Illustrated Legacies: The Art and Science of Gardening Manuals
The exhibition features a range of beautifully illustrated guides that document Britain’s botanical wealth. One of the standout volumes is Jane Loudon’s British Wild Flowers, written around 1850. Originally embarking on a career as a science fiction author, Loudon’s marriage to a horticulturist sparked her passion for botany. She became a self-taught botanical illustrator, producing vibrant lithographs that brought gardening within reach of women and the middle class.
Loudon’s contributions highlight a pivotal moment in gardening’s social history. Her accessible manuals, filled with her own artwork, not only educated readers about plant varieties but also inspired broader participation in gardening. This legacy of inclusion is echoed throughout the exhibition, reminding visitors that gardening has historically served as a bridge across class and gender divides.
In addition to books, the exhibition incorporates multimedia installations that celebrate the diversity of gardening experiences. One such feature, The Speaking Garden, blends projected visuals and an immersive soundscape to create a sensory ‘garden of voices.’ Developed by Buffalo Sound Design, the installation invites local growers to share audio clips recounting their personal connections to gardening, enriching the exhibition with authentic, community-driven narratives. Anyone interested in contributing can submit their recordings via phone or computer by visiting the exhibition’s official page.
Community Roots: Libraries as Hubs for Growth and Inspiration
Public libraries, much like gardens, serve as vital communal spaces for learning, growth, and connection. Antony Ramm, Leeds Central Library’s special collections librarian, reflects on the power of gardening as a universal language: “Gardening is one of those rare and wonderful common threads through history which has inspired so much dedication, passion and joy for people from all walks of life in completely different eras.” He emphasizes that the collected wisdom on display not only preserves historic knowledge but also fuels a desire among new generations to craft beautiful gardens of their own.
The exhibition is part of a wider initiative inspired by the British Library’s national Living Knowledge Network, which brings together 30 library services across the country to celebrate gardening’s enduring importance. “The centuries of accumulated wisdom that we have on display at the library also captures that impulse which generations of gardeners have had to pass on their knowledge and encourage others to create beautiful gardens of their own,” Ramm adds. The Living Knowledge Network fosters collaboration and shared educational programming, ensuring that horticultural history continues to resonate with modern audiences.
Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, speaks to the shared mission of libraries and gardens: “Like gardening, libraries play a huge role in bringing people together and encouraging them to challenge themselves, learn and be inspired by the work of others.” She underscores the exhibition’s role in celebrating a tradition that enlivens the city and unites its communities in pride.
Participatory Experiences: Engaging with Unearthed
The Unearthed exhibition is designed to be participatory, encouraging visitors not just to observe but to contribute and engage. In addition to perusing rare manuscripts and illustrated guides, guests are invited to support the restoration of important works like New Principles of Gardening through donations. Restoration ensures these volumes continue to educate and inspire, extending their influence well beyond their original publication.
Visitors can also become a part of the exhibition by recording and submitting their stories to The Speaking Garden. This interactive element encourages people from all backgrounds to share what gardening means to them – whether it’s a source of solace, creativity, or community. The resulting audio tapestry provides an evolving archive of local voices, reinforcing the exhibition’s central message: gardening is a deeply personal as well as a collective act.
For those interested in experiencing Unearthed, the exhibition is open at Leeds Central Library until October 29. More details, including instructions on how to submit an audio clip, can be found on the exhibition’s website. Leeds Central Library continues to serve as a vibrant hub for cultural enrichment and lifelong learning, inviting everyone to discover, contribute, and grow through the shared history of gardening.
- The ‘Unearthed: The Power of Gardening’ exhibition at Leeds Central Library showcases over 500 years of horticultural history.
- The exhibition features rare gardening manuals, including John Gerard’s The Herball and Batty Langley’s New Principles of Gardening.
- Jane Loudon’s British Wild Flowers is highlighted for making gardening accessible to women and the middle class through her accessible manuals and artwork.
- An interactive multimedia installation called The Speaking Garden allows visitors to contribute their personal gardening stories.
- The exhibition runs until October 29 and is part of a wider initiative inspired by the British Library’s national Living Knowledge Network.