Free event
About
From windowsills to allotments, Unearthed: The Power of Gardening at Wakefield Libraries explores how the act of gardening can heal and sustain people in a multitude of ways. It reveals how gardening can bring people together, empower communities and shape our relationship with the natural world. It also considers gardening as a form of activism, as a means of challenging land ownership and highlighting social disparities, as well as providing a global story about the movement of plants.
Wakefield Libraries are also participating in The Reading Agency’s 2025 Summer Reading Challenge: Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors. Children will immerse themselves in a world of imagination through reading, exploring the magical connection between storytelling and nature. The Story Garden Summer Reading Challenge launches on Saturday 5 July 2025 in England and Wales.
Maddy Smith, lead curator of Unearthed: The Power of Gardening at the British Library, said: ‘Gardening is a transformative force. It can promote healing and wellbeing, forge closer communities, refresh neglected spaces and drive social change. Gardening connects us to our past, grounds us in the present and encourages us to look ahead to the future so I am really looking forward to seeing how our Living Knowledge Network partners augment the exhibition for audiences across the UK’.
Unearthed: The Power of Gardening is a free display at Wakefield Library – Wakefield Council from Friday 2 May – Friday 20 June 2025 and available to view and enjoy during library opening hours.
The exhibition will move onto Pontefract Library – Wakefield Council from Friday 27 June – Friday 8 August 2025 and available to view and enjoy during opening hours. Explore the transformative, enriching and sometimes radical power of gardening.
Inspired by the British Library’s major exhibition (2 May – 10 August 2025), Wakefield Libraries are one of 30 library services celebrating gardening through the UK-wide Living Knowledge Network.
The Living Knowledge Network is unique partnership between public and national libraries in the UK created by the British Library, streaming free events, exhibitions and workshops from libraries across the UK through LKN-events.co.uk.
Venue opening hours
Monday : 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Tuesday : 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday : 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Thursday : 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Friday : 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday : 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday : Closed
Access facilities
- Accessible Car Parking
- Accessible Toilet
- Assistance Dogs Welcome
- Baby Changing Facilities
- Changing Places Facility
- Guide Dogs Welcome
- Parent And Baby
- Wheelchair Accessible
Venue Details
Find us at
Wakefield One, Burton Street, Wakefield, WF1 2DD
Phone
01924305376
wakefieldlibrarymuseum@wakefield.gov.uk