Liverpool Bluecoat goes green with Gardener in Residence

Liverpool’s Bluecoat has appointed an artistic Gardener in Residence as part of the city’s Without Walls initiative to encourage people back into the city centre.

Artist, gardener and beekeeper Andrea Ku previously collaborated with the School Lane arts venue on a series of nature-focussed blogs during lockdown earlier this summer.

L8-based Ku, managing director of B 4 Biodiversity, will film online tutorials in the Bluecoat’s walled garden, as well as holding safe distanced tutorials with the public. She will also advise the arts centre on making its own green space even more biodiverse and bee friendly.

Meanwhile from tomorrow – the start of this year’s Heritage Open Days – people can access a map of accessible green spaces in Liverpool which includes Bluecoat’s historic inner courtyard as well as highlighting long lost city centre gardens and less visited areas of Liverpool that are safe habitats for families to explore.

The map will be distributed by Bluecoat in both print and online formats.

And in addition, Ku will create 250 wellbeing bags containing art materials, printed activities and micro planting projects for youngsters. They will be distributed from the Bluecoat building as well as via a local city centre school.

Bluecoat head of programme Marie-Anne McQuay said: “Our garden is much loved by our visitors who enjoy its qualities as a tranquil green space in the city centre.

“We’re thrilled that Andrea’s appointment will help us to use this space to its full potential, making it an even more pleasant and rewarding space for Bluecoat visitors by encouraging more diverse planting and future proofing this precious green resource.”

The Gardener in Residence role has been funded via Liverpool City Council’s Without Walls programme supported by Arts Council England.