Flower power turns tables on 'plant blindness'
Schoolchildren on Merseyside are taking the humble cornflower to their hearts thanks to an eco awareness campaign led by LJMU researcher Samantha Cooper.
The Cornflower – one of England’s most emblematic but under-threat flowers – was immortalised by Vincent Van Gogh and is a favourite of beekeepers.
The children aged 8-10 from Heswall Primary have been combining art and science to learn about the importance of wildflowers and other plant species in ecology and future of the planet.
PhD researcher Samantha Cooper, from the School of Art and Creative Industries, is studying how to boost the value of plants in common consciousness.
Green (un)Seen
She says it is vital the younger generation open their eyes to the value of Nature to humanity.
“The cornflower has declined sharply in the UK due to intensive farming and pesticide use and is now listed as a Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.”
The partnership with Heswall Primary, an eco-school on Wirral, is part of Green (un)Seen, an international art and science project raising awareness of plant life and biodiversity through public engagement.
The global project explores “plant blindness”, which refers to the tendency to overlook the importance of plants, despite their crucial role as the foundation of life on Earth. Plant blindness results in decreased conservation funding, reduced scientific research, and an inability to appreciate plant biodiversity
Green (un)Seen has been developed for Fascination of Plants Day today (18 May), an international initiative led by the European Plant Science Organisation.
World Museum exhibit
On Merseyside, children created watercolour artworks focused on cornflower identification which have been shared in eight locations, including at the World Museum, Croxteth Park and Port Sunlight Village. They were distributed as creative packages containing a dried cornflower and wildflower seeds, along with a letter featuring a QR code inviting public participation in the global project.
“Working with the children was incredibly rewarding, particularly seeing the care and attention they gave to the project,” added Samantha. “I hope this exciting initiative encourages global interest and helps to reconnect us with plant life.”
The work was supported by Janet Wright, Environmental Lead at Heswall Primary School, and Wendy Atkinson, Botany Assistant Curator at World Museum Liverpool.
