Over the past two weeks, In Our Nature have created an immersive nature experience in one of central Manchester’s busiest streets; St Ann’s Square. The pop-up is a beautiful space that turns a typical shop front into one taken over by plants and nature. Visitors can relax amongst the plants, the smells of nature and projections of green spaces from around the city. We supplied the pop-up with plants for the installation, curating a collection full of botanical wonders to help build the immersive environment.

Research from Natural England shows a positive link between feeling connected to nature and behaving in a way that is better for the environment. The pop-up aims to help people connect with nature, as well as aiming to get locals involved in environmentalist activism.

“Nature plays a central part in helping the city fight the climate crisis. Plants and trees are brilliant at soaking up the carbon emissions that lead to extreme weather and help cool urban areas in hot weather. It’s wonderful to see people across Manchester coming together for the good of the planet, and we’re excited to inspire more people to join as they visit this beautiful nature experience.”

- Lisa Lingard, Community Lead at Manchester Climate Change Agency

The shop is part of the ‘In Our Nature’ programme (led by Hubbub, Manchester Climate Change Agency and Partnership, Manchester City Council, Amity CIC, the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and Commonplace) working with communities in Manchester to find creative solutions to the climate crisis, using nature as a gateway to inspire positive climate action, with a big focus on removing barriers for those facing barriers to spending time in nature. All the materials used to create the space were locally sourced, reused or recyclable.

“We all feel better after spending time in nature, and this is exactly why we’re bringing this innovative experience into central Manchester. We hope people will leave feeling boosted by the power of nature and be inspired to get involved in projects and take action across Manchester.”

- Gavin Ellis, co-founder of Hubbub

As well as utilising a lush, green landscape within the shop to invoke the feeling of returning to nature, the space also utilises a rich sound installation, featuring the sound of Manchester's nature' tracks created in collaboration with sound artist and composer Jason Singh and Manchester’s spoken word collective Young Identity. Visitors can listen to these tracks created by transforming ‘biodata’ generated from plants around Moss Side and a mix of voices from local residents.

“People and nature are an endless source of inspiration for me. This project has been a wonderful exploration of poetry, technology, landscape and nature. Manchester is huge part of my life and I truly love both the wide range of people that inhabit all parts of the city as well as the landscape that makes Manchester what it is. This new installation celebrates peoples’ connection with nature as well as thinking about the surroundings in which we live, work and play. It has been an absolute pleasure working on In Our Nature.”

- Jason Singh, Sound Artist and Nature Beatboxer

The ‘In Our Nature’ pop-up is located at St Ann’s Arcade, 10-12A St Ann’s Sq, Manchester M2 7HW, from 9th – 17th October, open every weekday from 11AM-2PM and 4PM-7PM, and on weekends from 10AM to 8PM.

Words by Sophie Erasmus.