Plant of My Land
Plant of My Land is a collection of people and the plants they associate with home.
A BOTANY and other stories project, it asks people who live in Hay-on-Wye and the surrounding area – whether British or born elsewhere in the world – what is the plant that they associate with their country.
So far the project comprises over sixty voices, from a wide range of age groups and including countries from Wales to Argentina, South Africa and Mexico.
“The universal is the local without walls.”
Extracts from Plant of My Land
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Sophie Ferrier
Sophie is a multimedia artist and ecological activist. She runs Hay Regenerative Soils CIC, recycling nutrients from the local town's food waste.
When I think of pond edges, I think of... Pillwort
Pillwort (Pilularia globulifera) is a rare, native, rhizomatous grass-looking fern that releases spores that are held in little pill cases called nodes at the bottom of the plant. It embodies vulnerability like myself, an echo of our ecosystem.
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Kieran Cheverton
Kieran Cheverton lives in Hay-on-Wye where he runs Castle Greengrocers with his wife Anna.
When I think of Southern Florida, I think of... Mangroves
10th September 1991: “Shark spit!!” (egg sack of the moon snail). The yell doesn’t forewarn me as the oceanic jelly slaps my back. I’m already grabbing a handful of seaweed to launch in my brother’s direction. Our parents rest on the sands by a lump of driftwood the size of a tree, discarded by some forgotten storm.
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Ruslana
Ruslana is Ukrainian and lived for a time in Hay-on-Wye during 2022–23.
When I think of Ukraine, I think of Wheat Spikes...
I associate Ukraine with wheat spike, because I saw it very often when travelling around Ukraine, or sunflower – when I see it, I immediately remember the house, friends or family. It is with these plants that I have warm, bright and pleasant memories.
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Ellie
Ellie, pictured aged 9, is artist in residence for BOTANY and other stories.
When I think of the Warren path, I think of... Hazel
This hazel tree is along the Warren path, by the River Wye. It is very special to me because I have known him since I was two. I could climb it all the time and I still do now.
It’s very beautiful and is an important part of my memories. I love it because it is very climbable and is very sturdy and strong.
More coming soon...
