Join artists and panel experts to discuss the benefits of connecting to nature through growing plants and supporting our natural heritage.
The event will introduce the community engagement work of RHS Garden Bridgewater and Chester Zoo, featuring:
· Daniel Atherton, Regional Interpretation Coordinator, Royal Horticultural Society, RHS Garden Bridgewater and RHS Garden Harlow Carr;
· Jenny Mutch, Head of Conservation Education and Engagement, Chester Zoo.
There will also be an introduction to the community co-created photography exhibited in Open Eye Gallery’s space during LOOK Climate Lab 2026, featuring:
- Stephanie Wynne, socially engaged photographer working with volunteers supporting Whitby Park Community Garden in Ellesmere Port. Part of Chester Zoo’s Networks for Nature programme, the collaboration has explored the positive impact of nature connections, using photography as a way to observe, reflect, and explore what nature means to each of the gardeners.
- Fiona Robinson, socially engaged photographer working with one of the Green Social Prescribing groups, connecting people with nature based activities at RHS Bridgewater. Since June 2025, they have been exploring the ever-changing beauty of the gardens through a broad range of photography based activities.
- Anoosh Ariamehr, socially engaged photographer working with the adults and children from RHS Nature and Natter group, in association with the Recreate-U organisation. Together they have been combining gardening, socialising, photography, care and listening: slow walks around the garden, observational prompts, practical photography tasks and occasional storytelling workshops that introduced simple photographic techniques.
Anoosh Ariamehr and Fiona Robinson residencies are part of OFFSHOOT – a collaboration between University of Salford Art Collection, RHS Garden Bridgewater and Open Eye Gallery, generously supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
This event is part of LOOK Climate Lab 2026, a biennial programme by Open Eye Gallery.