Spring Gathering 2025: Fertile Edges
Fertile edges invited explorations of the interplay of creativity in Dudley.
Spring Gathering 2025: Fertile Edges
The theme of CoLab Dudley’s Spring Gathering and associated exhibition this year was Fertile Edges. It was an open invitation to explore the interplay of creativity in Dudley and weave connections to invite others to resist, rethink, reconnect and revitalise the world in which we live.
The exhibition, curated by CoLab Dudley team member Deb McDonald, showcased action taken and creative works made by local people through many and varied community-led collaborations, experiments and learning enquiries. The Gathering brought together local people who have led and participated in this creativity and learning, and those curious about it.
Exhibits included multi media responses to explorations of Dudley Town Centre created by over 75 local people through our Urban Rooms Dudley programme led by 12 local creatives. Nestled among these were projects emerging and evolving through our climate justice work, including Stories of Place and Exploring the Edges. We also foregrounded our climate justice related Share Books, a library developed in collaboration with CIVIC SQUARE’s Beyond Books. And we featured exhibits from the Flourishing Edges Unconference, and a collective enquiry around evaluation with public sector colleagues.
Local people making connections at our Spring Gathering, 30 April 2025
The gathering was a lively event, our High Street lab space was full of conversation, connection and hands-on doing, between moments of poetry and short presentations. We started however, with Quiet Time Early Opening, which was welcomed by a local family and a few others.
We had filled our window with stunning artworks created by local communities across the West Midlands (including Dudley) to visualise air quality data. We created a pop-up conversation space on the High Street for discussions about these with colleagues from the West Midlands Combined Authority who have been co-ordinating this Air We Share project.
Pop-up conversation space on Dudley High Street, inviting responses to the Air We Share exhibition
Why Fertile Edges?
We borrowed the term Fertile Edges from the title of Maddy Harland’s book, which is an anthology of editorials written between 1996 and 2017 for Permaculture Magazine, which Maddy co-founded and edits.
In permaculture design, the edge is where the ecotones meet: the sky with the land, the woodland with pasture, the river with its banks and freshwater with saltwater in an estuary. These edges are where light intensifies for greater photosynthesis, nutrients are captured and biodiversity blooms.
I am also interested in the ‘edges’ of human society, where people fall between the gaps whether through poverty, illness or other factors that make them vulnerable. I believe that permanent cultures look after the vulnerable because they retain the threads that weave community. The web is tighter and people are less likely to fall through the gaps. Permaculture design encourages us to mimic the creation of edges to boost biodiversity and yields in land based projects, but it also helps us to understand social exclusion and design edges to minimise it.
~ Maddy Harland, Fertile Edges: Regenerating land, culture and hope, 2017
Educator and activist Daniel Christian Wahl posted a review of Maddy’s Fertile Edges book in December 2017.
He writes:
Fertile Edges weaves the patterns, people, and processes that are contributing to the emergence of diverse regenerative cultures everywhere into a beautiful tapestry of hope and courage to step up to the great work of our times and be part of the change. On the one hand, the tapestry offers glimpses of the more beautiful world many us can already hear breathing gently in our quiet moments — to paraphrase Charles Eisenstein and Arundhati Roy.
On the other hand, the tapestry invites us to face the horrors we are still bestowing on fellow human beings and the wider community of life. As Joanna Macy so aptly described, we need to act as hospice workers to a dying system that is structurally degenerative and unsustainable, and at the same time as midwives of the new: a regenerative human impact on Earth.
The book spans 25 years, hence giving us an opportunity to reflect where we have come from, what has changed, what still needs transforming, and how we can find the strength to keep getting up every morning with the firm commitment to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
The concept of fertile edges, where different habitats and species meet, is one that we consider often in our work as a social lab. We might design to increase the edge, to maximise the potential of such places of encounter. Through our exhibition and gathering we invited local people to consider:
What are some of the fertile edges between the actions of local people shaping cultures of care, cultures of learning and cultures of creativity?
(See more from Maddy Harland and Daniel Christian Wahl, and Sam Rye, in our Fertile Edges Inspiration exhibition and gathering booklet.)
Quiet Time Early Opening
When Deb joined our team she brought a very welcome focus on design considerations of the spaces we animate, swiftly implementing some simple, practical additions and changes which help spaces to be more inclusive. She also wanted to bring energy to decolonising our lab space on the High Street, and it’s really helped me having someone else around who calls attention to dominant voices and representations.
Deb suggested that we test out a Quiet Time Early Opening of the exhibition. This sensory-friendly, relaxed time for families and individuals who would benefit from a quieter environment offered an opportunity to explore the exhibition without the overwhelm of a large gathering. We have a quiet room for those needing to take a break, and have a basket of ear defenders and sensory objects available at all times.
A local family who came along for the early opening time were welcomed by an Urban Rooms Dudley creative lead with invitations to make pots for seeds, sow pollinating flower seeds and draw gardens.
On the High Street: Air We Share
Air We Share was been developed by the West Midlands Combined Authority. Working with artist, maker and designer Claire Witcomb, local people in seven different places across the region have taken part in air quality data visualisation workshops. Groups collaborated on collective artworks which are being exhibited around the West Midlands to start conversation, generate questions and catalyse action around the air we breathe. It was fantastic to bring all 7 pieces together on Dudley High Street and have colleagues from the Combined Authority on hand to facilitate conversation around them. Comments jotted on their feedback board included:
- This exhibition makes me feel… better! It’s good to know stuff is going on.
- This exhibition makes me want to… learn!
- This exhibition makes me want to… talk!
- This exhibition makes me want to… think more about my own actions
- I like the art as a way of conveying information as data can be so dry. These pieces evoke a feeling response, an empathy and also a creative response, it engage creativity. The central display of coloured strips has the feeling of a library/archive — serious!
Collective Photography of Hope
On entering our High Street lab space, an exhibition of black and white photography by 11 local people invited reflections on hope through stories, personal memories, everyday beauty and symbolism.
Collective Photography of Hope exhibition
This project was led by local filmmaker and visual artist Soheila Javaheri as part of our Urban Rooms Dudley enquiry. Below are just a couple of the exhibits shared. See more in our Urban Rooms report.
The Dancing Tree, by Thea Brown
The Dancing Tree Twisting and full of energy. Inspired by Susan Jeffers’ Dancing with Life; let go and trust the dance. A reminder to find glimmers of hope in daily life. ~ Thea Brown
A Tapestry of Tastes on Offer, by Stacy Cross
A Tapestry of Tastes on Offer This vibrant display of fresh ingredients is a testament to the community’s rich diversity, moving forward together. In a setting where such abundance is rarely seen outdoors in the UK, Dudley High Street becomes a symbol of accessibility, shared cultural heritage, and a forward-looking spirit. It invites shoppers to explore new flavours, celebrate the richness of their shared community, and embrace the journey of progress. ~ Stacy Cross
I was really moved by some of the photography, particularly the images of people and suggestive notions of emotion. [I had] conversations with others about it. ~ Spring Gathering participant
Playtime in Dudley
We were in for a treat as we settled in to hear Sara Round, co-founder of the brilliant Bicycle Adventure Club CIC, tell us about her experience leading an Urban Rooms Dudley activity around play and Dudley’s landscapes.
I had experienced the joy of being around during one of the sessions, in which she invited children to time travel with her to taste the 1980s (they taste like Wagon Wheels and Swizzels Parma Violet sweets, in case you were wondering), and to travel to the future and draw images of their bedrooms in the year 3000.
The three Playtime in Dudley sessions which ran between January and March invited local people to share stories and memories of outdoor play in Dudley — past and present. These shared experiences were to be collated in a video to celebrate the connection between people, place, and the spirit of adventure.
Sarah shares learning from Playtime in Dudley at the Spring Gathering, including the most important data collected — which Wagon Wheel flavour people prefer!
Things hadn’t gone as she’d envisaged, but Sarah has still created the most captivating video about play, while cycling through our local landscapes. Check it out below.
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I was inspired by Playtime in Dudley and the interactive map. I would like to connect with Sarah to develop a future project.
Really connected with Playtime in Dudley, looking forward to watching the full video!
~ Spring Gathering Participants
A fishy poem!
Time to Make (TTM) is a team of local creatives; Rachel Massey, Dan Crew, Rick Sanders and Becky Thompson. They collaborate to offer time to make, and space to create, for connections to grow, skills to build, creativity to share. One of their Urban Rooms Dudley sessions led by local poet and maker Rick invited an exploration the underwater world with poetry and collage. Collage sea fishes were created in response to fishy poems, inviting conversation and reflection about our fishy friends in Dudley’s waterways.
Photos from a Time To Make collaging session using poems about fish as inspiration
Rick had written a poem in response to the session, and shared it during the Spring Gathering.
Fishes
In A few Hours we do Collage inspired by poetry And sometimes it’s a mystery Just how good people are at Finding the shape, colour, style and that Sense of togetherness just from art-based creativity And the conversation flows, tea gets drunk and skillfully Pictures appear out of imagination and a table of chat Spills over into sound as boys explore the space having sat A little too long, swimming their sharks around and around and around
Rick sharing his poem at the Spring Gathering
[I had] conversations with Rick about poetry, connection and spaces, as well as conversations with Zoe about High Street regeneration and engaging communities was interesting. ~ Spring Gathering Participant
Rachael’s adventure with Urban Rooms Dudley
Laura Onions (left) and Rachael Othala (right) at the Spring Gathering
People are making prints of pictures I made in the Mapping Relief workshop from photos I took — the gift that keeps giving. ~ Rachael at the Spring Gathering
Rachael started an art degree with the Open University and the Open College of the Arts in January 2025, and as part of the introduction they recommended that students go out into their local area, see local galleries and get involved in local art events. When Rachael started looking for what was on in Dudley she came across our Urban Rooms Dudley workshops.
She shared with everyone at the Spring Gathering a little of her experience of each activity she attended.
I just love all this stuff, I wish it was on all the time.
Reflecting on We Are Makers session, Together We Weave, Rachael said: “We were weaving the threads, but what was more important to me that came from it was weaving together the conversation. So some of us were passing the threads to each other, and it was also like we were passing on the talking stick!” Rachael took her son to one of Soheila’s Photography of Hope sessions; “he really enjoyed it and had a lot to say about his photos.”
When she attended a screening of The Nettle Dress at CoLab Dudley, Rachael “made connections that I didn’t know were connections yet, which is what I love about these spaces.” Through the connections she was making, Rachel was being invited to other activities, such as Tending Place, People and Planet at Hawbush Community of Place, and Stories of Place at CoLab Dudley. “There’s always more than what you think there’s going to be.”
Through all the connections, Rachael was inspired to start a weekly group, to explore different art mediums together, no-one is teaching anything unless they want to. The group is also for connection, coming together in a safe space: it doesn’t have to involve doing art “you can just chill… I really wanted somewhere on the High Street that was safe just for people to come and connect, like what I had.”
Rachael’s Urban Rooms Dudley adventure story board
Memories of Nature and Memories in Dudley
Though she was on holiday during the Spring Gathering, Hannah Pickin (founder of Wild Earth Movement) took the time beforehand to create an exhibition corner showcasing works made by local people during Urban Rooms Dudley sessions she led.
Memories of Nature was an intergenerational session in which participants were invited to think about their family tree and link each person with a memory in nature that they have with those family members. Memories could highlight the green spaces that may or may not still exist in the Dudley borough. The final pieces were collaged, using leaves, dried flowers; nature intertwined in family trees.
Memories in Dudley was an invitation to explore virtually and visually the neighbourhoods, buildings and streets of Dudley through maps and photographs. Images were printed onto fabric and varied embroidery techniques overlaid to produce tactile art pieces linked to place. The sessions were designed to spark conversations around memories, histories and possible futures of Dudley.
Hannah Pickin setting up her exhibition and the exhibition area at the Spring Gathering
Mythical Beasts
A fertile edge of CoLab Dudley work over the months before the Spring Gathering has been our involvement in an enquiry with colleagues from the NHS and Dudley Council. The enquiry was designed to build evaluation capability among people who work in our local services.
An enquiry member from the NHS shared a similie in the opening session that likened evaluation to a mythical beast and a world of unicorns. Inspired by this, we invited enquiry team members to create their own version of an “Evaluation Mythical Beast”, evaluation enquiry companions made in whatever form of expression they felt comfortable with. Each enquiry session more mythical beasts joined the journey; from the crocheted ‘Fluffy’ and fabric scraps that make up ‘Brave’, to hand drawn Eval Ken Eval and AI generated ‘Batty Macleish’.
The enquiry has been openly documented and the Mythical Beasts introduced here. We exhibited the Mythical Beasts at the Spring Gathering to spark conversations about what can happen when we create the conditions for vulnerability in spaces like CoLab Dudley which invite experimentation, unlearning and creativity. As one enquiry member reflected: “The CoLab Dudley space is important, the energy is different, I feel excited on the way here, the creativity.”
Mythical Beasts created and shared by NHS and council officers reflecting what they feel about evaluation and developing their confidence in it
Flourishing Edges Unconference
The Spring Gathering also featured artefacts created during the Flourishing Edges Unconference which took place earlier in April.
Flourishing Edges Unconference was a space for people from different backgrounds interested in learning processes that bring us closer to regenerative futures, in which all life flourishes e.g. through transdisciplinary, creative, decolonising, more-than-human methodologies. It was not a traditional conference with a fixed structure for sharing results; instead it was a co-created, safe, experimental and flexible gathering. We collectively imagined and enacted ways of sitting with complexity and uncertainty, in being in relation with Nature, and embracing multiple ways of knowing, in order to be good ancestors.
Read more about the Flourishing Edges Unconference in Holly Doron’s Lab Note.
Exploring the Edges
We introduced two new Dudley People’s School for Climate Justice projects during the Spring Gathering. One is a **Council of All Beings**, a process designed by Joanna Macy which Deb from Ekho Collective is testing in 2025. (See the invitational exhibit below.)
Another invitation, also created by Deb, is Pockets of Hope. This year long project which started in February 2025 is engaging people of all ages and taking place in an array of settings across Dudley Borough and beyond. The invitation is to create a pocket from recycled materials, these can take any form and be any size or shape. Pocketmakers then gift an item inside their pocket that symbolises your hope for a sustainable world and a flourishing future. The gift may be a poem, a sketch, a favourite stone, a list of climate activism ideas, a research article, a picture of someone who inspires you or even a personally handcrafted item. All pockets will be curated at the close of the project into an interactive installation with invitations offered to all pocketmakers to gather together to explore and celebrate our many ways of capturing hope for future generations. There were opportunities to make and fill pockets at the Spring Gathering.
Council of All Beings invitation
Dudley Time Portal
It wouldn’t be a lab Gathering without an update to the Time Portal and an invitation to explore what Stories of Place co-creators have been up to. In March the group had explored regenerative ways of being (see more here) and in April co-creators delved into seeds of ideas from the archive to see how they might evolve them or bring them closer to coming true.
The Dudley Time Portal also now proudly displays Makespace Oxford’s invitation to people in Oxford to take part in Stories of Place as part of their Common Futures programme of exploration. (See more on our learning exchanges with Makespace Oxford in Jo Orchard-Webb’s Lab Note.)
Gemma and Alex from Common Knowledge were also on hand at the Spring Gathering to show the first prototype of the digital Dudley Time Portal and invite feedback on future iterations.
Today I met Gemma and we talked about how we could make the digital Dudley Time Portal archives accessible and inviting for young people and creating a digital photo gallery! ~ Spring Gathering participant
Share books
Our library of Share Books developed in collaboration with CIVIC SQUARE’s Beyond Books was on display. Our featured author for this gathering was Robin Wall Kimmerer, whose work and writings illuminate the fertile edges between indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants. Copies of her essay collection, Braiding Sweetgrass were available to take away as Share Books.
Weaving connections across fertile edges
Towards the end of the evening Deb invited anyone present to add to a woolly web with tags describing connections they had made during the Gathering and/or any highlights from the evening. A few of these have been shared above.
The value of bringing creatives and doers together was abundantly clear in what people chose to share about what emerged through just one evening:
Connected someone new to spoken word events.
Got invited to discuss the potential of a future poetry event focused on Brierley Hill as a progression from a previous project.
I had a conversation about print making in polytunnels.
Connected with Boiler Babs and Time To Make.
I met mentors past and connected with future collaborators, thank you.
Was given ideas of venues for a spoken word event aimed at young people that could tie in some existing projects.
The inspiration shared in many forms was appreciated:
I was really inspired by the talks demonstrating people’s stories.
Adore the Share Books concept. I have borrowed some books that will help inform a project I am working on.
People new to our CoLab Dudley space and work shared feedback:
I’ve never visited before but will recommend to artist friends in Dudley.
This is an amazing place and project.
Making friends with people and place was a common theme:
A new place to explore and friends to get to know!
Making friends and exploring my local area more.
An Urban Rooms Dudley Poem, by Lorna Rose
Lorna is a local actor, published poet and member of Fringe Dwellers, a Dudley based collective of neurodiverse and LGBTQI+ creatives. Lorna took part in our Urban Rooms Dudley programme in the role of Creative Detectorist, and crafted a creative response to the activities, in the form of a poem and a video. She shared these at the Spring Gathering.
Lorna Rose performs her Urban Rooms poem at the Spring Gathering
Urban Rooms Dudley, by Lorna Rose
We are artists who make trees out of flowers, capturing memories of when we spoke to the land and heard it reply.
We are activists who sit side by side in contended silence or raucous laughter, thrashing out the world’s problems with our fingers covered in paint and glue.
We are the grown ups who remember when we were curious kids, scrambling over Wrens Nest looking for fossils, braving the dark tunnels of the Dudley canal, making the most of each scrap of sunlight as we cycled through the cycles.
We are crafters who scrape through soft buttery lino with sharp tools to create a new cartography for the spaces that made us.
We are observers who capture hope through a camera lens, as the high street tells us its stories.
We are underwater explorers, who fish out poetry and art from the depths and go with the flow of imagination.
We are growers, nurturers of the future, cultivating nature from across the world on our rooftops.
We are resourceful women who make beauty out of drain covers, and cover the concrete in colour.
A gifted poem
We were also gifted a poem on the evening, by Spun From Air and Sunlight.
A suggestion from a friend Has led to connection, A hint from the universe leading me here, Where the light shines, Glowing at the edges of life.
Here is hope, with her friend, action.
Together they are taking steps small, or large. That are immense in their vision.
Finding the way To inspire, to motivate, Reawaken and engage.
People celebrating place And making a difference To the life that surrounds, That envelopes and nourishes us all.
Linking and connecting, Extending and tending, The Fertile Edges.
We are so grateful for this gift, being seen in this work. Thank you.
Documentation links
The following offer deeper dives into the work shared at our Spring Gathering, in which we celebrated the fertile edges between the actions of numerous local people shaping cultures of care, cultures of learning and cultures of creativity.
Our connections threaded through the lab space after everyone had left
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