Plants are often unrepresented parts of our landscapes, but they play a huge role in shaping our environment. What nature walk would be complete without the growth of beautiful ferns and other foliage, how unusual would the start of spring feel without the blossoms growing on trees, and how boring might our gardens feel without the luscious growth of our seasonal favourites? Plants surround us and we all have a role to play in how they shape our communities and wilder landscapes. To understand this role, we must have the means to connect to plants, learn about the impacts —both positive and negative — that they can have on us and our wider environment, and act to maintain our wonderful habitats. 

Our exhibition aims to do just that by exploring invasive species through the lens of history and art. Beyond the Boundary: A Case of Garden Escapers follows the journey of some plants as they made their way across the sea on ships to the UK way back in the 19^th century. It explores how more people began to garden for fun and for educational purposes, and how our love of plants grew to make gardening so popular today.

The journey of these plants, however, doesn’t end there. Some plants moved beyond their native ranges have taken to their new homes too well and have become what we call invasive species. These invasive plants can damage habitats, out-compete native species, and can be very expensive to manage. Climate change is likely to make this problem worse and native species struggle to survive.

But don’t panic! There’s plenty that we can all do to protect nature. The first step is to understand the problem, so you’re already part way there! The next step is to know which plants to look out for. Knowing what you grow so you can either avoid planting invasive species or manage them effectively will help you to make informed decisions that help wildlife and keep your garden looking lovely in a way that works for you. You can find out more about how to manage your garden plants at our exhibition or visit our Garden Escapers project page for our resource library! 

 This project is funded by the Nature Networks Programme. It is being delivered by the Heritage Fund, on behalf of the Welsh Government.