Page 49 - ALG Issue 3 2022

University research departments all over the world have been researching the potential uses of these plants to remediate the pollution we have caused to soil and water. The studies also look at how the metals could be ‘mined’, recycled from the plants.
To explore this further, Brunel University have developed a ‘Citizen Scientist’ project sending out 200 packs of
seeds with a method and instructions to grow a selection of plants known
to accumulate heavy metals. The soil
is sampled before sowing the seeds,
the plants are harvested, and the soils sampled again. At all stages the soil and
plants are analysed in the laboratory. Geoff Hamilton and Don Booth from the Salford Allotment Federation, staff from Salford City Council and artists Lynn Pilling and Val Murray from the art group Tea are growing one of these packs on a piece of contaminated
land at the Beechfield site. The land is needed for allotments urgently and this process may take too long for the local gardeners but it will play an important role in furthering our knowledge of ecological methods of decontamination and recycling heavy metals.
Lynn and Val will be closely observing and documenting the process of the
At all stages the soil and plants are analysed in the laboratory
experiment through drawing and photography. They are looking for interesting, accessible places to exhibit the work.
Lynn Pilling
Lynn is putting on a display at the NAS stand at the Tatton Park Flower Show from July 20th-24th.
Don Booth,
Salford Allotment Federation
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 49