Broad Meadow - wildflower installation & audio experience at Broadmead

About

Step into the lost nature of Broadmead.

Imagine a colourful, tranquil wildflower meadow amidst the hustle and bustle of Bristol's built-up shopping centre, Broadmead. With their new project Broad Meadow, artists Sylvia Rimat and Charli Clark are growing that very place.

Smell the sweet scent of flowers, hear the buzz of wings and submerge yourself in the lost nature of our city centre. You're invited to take a seat and relax in a wildflower meadow installation that gives you a taste of what life used to be like in Broadmead.

Whilst immersed in the plants and wildlife around you, you'll be able to access an audio piece via your smartphone. The audio experience addresses our intertwined relationship with the plant world and connects us to Bristol prior to the 1500s, when Broadmead was a wet meadow, regularly flooded by the river Frome. The wildflower installation's soil structure and plant species have been carefully chosen to mimic the meadow that once may have grown there.

The installation is made up of 55 wildflower boxes that have been planted in workshops with secondary school students across Bristol and with community groups. After the project ends, the boxes will be distributed to Bristol schools and communities to continue to thrive as mini meadows.

Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to National Lottery Players and Broadmead BID. Further support from Frances and Matthew Lindsey-Clark, Pervasive Media Studio, Mayfest, Ashton Scaffolding Services Ltd, Bristol WORKS and Residence.