We Feed The UK: No Diggity Exhibition Opening at Winterley Lane Allotments

On Saturday 18th May 2024, our long-term project We Feed The UK: No Diggity in collaboration with The Gaia Foundation opened at Winterley Lane Allotments (WLA) as a pop-up exhibition and a day of performance and activities. After a year spent at the allotments, Midlands-based photographer Ayesha Jones' photographs that captured the n0-dig approach of Neville Portas were finally displayed in amongst the plots and greenery. Read on to find out more about the exhibition and the opening day.

As part of the We Feed The UK campaign coordinated by The Gaia Foundation, ten UK regional partners are working with ten photographers and ten poets to depict the story of ten regenerative farmers, under a particular theme. We were delighted to be working with Midlands-based photographer Ayesha Jones, and Birmingham-based poet Bohdan Piasecki, who were paired with Neville Portas to represent and platform his No Diggity Gardens at Winterley Lane Allotments, Walsall. For the past year, Ayesha has been capturing the important work and approaches Nev champions including no-digging and creating a community compost heap. Alongside this, Ayesha thought it was important to capture the sense of community that can be found at WLA and so photographed the many people who use the site, such as children from a local primary school, members from a support hub and plot owners.

The project culminated in the form of an exhibition located on site at the allotments. Featuring Ayesha's photographs, the exhibition echoed the values Nev and No Diggity Gardens have: namely having as little impact on the environment as possible. And so, we decided to print all of the photographs on recyclable board, aside from six photographs that were printed on biodegradable paper, with aqueous inks, with the intention of placing these in the compost.

The morning of Saturday 18th May began with installing the photographs. With the combined effort of Nev, Helen, Tina, Andy, Ayesha and Multistory staff, over 80 prints were put up across the site. Using materials already found on the allotments (such as wooden stakes and chipboard), which were then fabricated into display stands by Neville, we were keen to reflect his planet-conscious approach by re-using materials and printing on recyclable/biodegradable material. This approach also extended to the curation of the photographs and wanting them to sit naturally in the setting, rather than disrupting it.

Images of installation, taken by Belle Portas, 2024.

At 11am it was time for the Allotments to open its doors to the public. Coinciding with WLA's Open Day, the exhibition received large crowds, including some of those who were photographed for the project. Visitors could explore the exhibition, learn more about No Diggity Gardens/Winterley Lane and watch a live performance of Again, Again by poet Bohdan Piasecki. As well as buy plants, learn about wildlife and eat cake!

Images of the exhibition opening, taken by Belle Portas, 2024.

The day was a joyful celebration of the We Feed The UK project, the work produced by Ayesha, and No Diggity Gardens/Nev Portas; as well as the fantastic community that use Winterley Lane Allotments. The exhibition will remain open for the remainder of this month and you can also pick up a copy of the accompanying handout on site.

Neville Portas, No Diggity Gardens

Multistory are thankful to the Gaia Foundation for involving us with this project. It has been a fascinating insight into the We Feed The UK campaign and learn more about the regenerative processes happening on our doorstep.

We would also like to thank Ayesha Jones, Neville Portas, Bohdan Piasecki, Belle Portas, all members of Winterley Lane Allotment, Radley's Primary School and The Motivation/Transition Hub. Furthermore, thank you to Hollodeck and Kaleidoscope printing for all of their support and commitment to our environment-conscious approach for this project.