Welcome!




My name is Anna, I'm an artist with a focus on connection with the natural, explored through themes of loss and absence, and the recontextualising of humans within the natural world.

Often, though we are unable to access natural spaces, nature finds ways to creep in around us: plants that we treat as 'weeds', or view as an eyesore, actually play vital roles within urban environments. Not only do they increase biodiversity - in an environment of concrete, pollution, and industrialisation that is inherently hostile to insect and plant life - but many are also edible, medicinal, and in some cases important to restoring damaged ground. As a result, what is often regarded as 'urban decline' is actually giving way to new life, and a restoration of nature.

My aim for my residency is to look at documenting not only the plant species in the urban areas of Morecambe, but also at the way they interact with its residents. As Morecambe presently exists in a state of limbo before the Eden Project's realisation, between external interest in turning it into a tourism spot and those already living and working in the area, the significance of how the community may be impacted seems more relevant than ever. There is a tension between urban and economic renewal, and the potential deconstruction of a strong sense of local identity. In many ways, this is reflected in the ecology of the area: a 'cleaner' Eden Project Morecambe could be one that loses these plants and insects.

Documenting the community and the physical location of Morecambe not only allows us to take an interest in the weeds and creatures living in the cracks, it also means we can look back as it evolves. I want this project to interact with the voice of both Morecambe's plants and its community, to get their perspective on the upcoming change.



Walking the Site
24th July, 2024


I took a walk in the Morecambe area, documenting plants and insects I found along the way. I went slightly outside of the town centre, more towards the train station. I ended up walking through both houses and town buildings, and found a nice little cut-through at one point, lined with trees.

It was interesting to see the diversity of plant life even within the city centre, and especially as I walked outside of it to more domestic areas. I think it would be interesting to develop some of my findings into a type of poetry or art writing, and maybe create some guidelines or a format so that others can do the same in my final result.

Though I have identified a few of these plants to the best of my ability, I am not an expert and one should always double-check, especially if you're planning to eat them!

Some of my finds:

What seems to be dandelion, growing with pineapple weed or wild chamomile.
Makes a great tea and smells very strongly of pineapple when crushed, but don't pick by roads!
Growing by the bus stop.

I think this is ivy? It looks like it's growing more as a bush by the side of the road.
Ivy can be used to make a natural detergent, though some say it's too oily to properly clean things.

Something in the nightshade family.
It doesn't look like the typical deadly nightshade because the flowers are the wrong colour (white instead of purple), but it looks otherwise the same.
I generally go by the rule that if it's growing wild, and it looks like a tomato, don't touch it.
Growing by the road.



Two more roadside finds- the first of which might be a young beech tree.

Toadflax!





A variety of bindweed.
I grew up calling this 'Granny Jump Out of Bed', because if you squeeze the very base of the flowers, they pop out!
Found by some kind of small industrial estate, near Euston Road.

Sticky weed, or goose grass. Can be eaten much the same way as spinach.

Rowan tree berries! Very nice in jam or ketchup apparently.

Elder berries, the next stage of elder flowers.
They go black when ripe and make a very powerful cold remedy.



Some ferns, brambles and other plants down an alley.
Enjoyed the juxtaposition of the fake leaves next to the other plants.

Nettles! Though they do sting, the leaves can be eaten like spinach and are high in iron and antioxidants.
The seeds also contain a stimulant similar to caffeine and make good walk snacks while green and fresh.

Love to see buddleia- it gets everywhere and is great for butterflies and other pollinators.
This one was growing by part of a railway line.

The most commonly identifiable wild plant: blackberry brambles!
Blackberries are coming into season soon.

Love the name of this one: maidenhair spleenwort.
This little fern loves to grow out of walls.



Ragwort, one with what seems to be a honey bee!
You can see the pollen deposits under it's abdomen. Most bees carry pollen on their back legs.
Ragwort is toxic to horses, and while some say it's fine to eat most sources regard it as toxic in general.

Hawthorn berries coming into season: they make great ketchup, and are traditionally a symbol of fertility.

Ash tree.

Some wild apples.

Fox-and-cubs, otherwise known as 'Devil's Paintbrush'.
There were several healthy looking plants nearby, so I picked one.

A snail, hiding under a wild horseradish leaf.

More of what I believe is wild horseradish.
While UK law dictates that you need permission to dig up any plant not on your private property, if you get ahold of the roots you can use it pretty much the same way as normal horseradish.
Found this just before that tree cut-through.

Local wildlife... accepted head scratches.



Yarrow, a powerful healing herb, growing beside the road.
You can steep chopped yarrow in oil or high percentage alcohol to use as a tincture: it promotes bloodflow to the affected area, allowing faster healing (always research and test for allergies before use though).

Thistles! Young thistle flowers can be eaten like artichoke hearts.

Some huge rose hips. Can be used for syrup.



Rosebay willowherb, also known as fireweed (plus a happy looking bumblebee).
This plant is highly invasive so can be used as much as you like.
The whole plant is edible: young shoots can be eaten like asparagus (though are apparently bitter), the center of the stem can be used like cornstarch as a thickener, the leaves are edible and the flowers can decorate salads or be used in tea.
The leaves have a very distinct oval pattern, circling down to the leaf point.

Some kind of tree or shrub, growing in the rocks by the beach.

Herb Bennet, or wood avens, growing in the rocks.
Another plant commonly regarded as a weed, but historically used in both cuisine and medicine.

A young sunflower growing in the rocks!

More pineapple weed, growing by the seafront, just next to the railing before the beach. This one looked very healthy!



Oxeye daisies and a few other plants, amidst the rubbish and rocks.
Oxeyes, similar to violets and smaller daisies, can be eaten. Though some say the yellow centre can cause indigestion if you eat too many.

And finally this little fella. Can never remember the name, but it has pretty pink and white spikes of spherical flowers.


I actually really liked this route: if I stick with a collective walk as my final work, I might re-walk it and refine it to use as my overall path.

I'm going to do some experimental writings, looking at the roles these plants were playing in the walk alongside their inherent properties.