Tiny guerilla gardens have turned Newtown’s potholes into pot plants

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This was published 6 years ago

Tiny guerilla gardens have turned Newtown’s potholes into pot plants

By Nicole Economos
Updated

With blooming flowers and gardening taking over social media just in time for spring, Australian-expat gardener Steven Wheen has brought one of the most Instagrammable trends to the street of Newtown, in the form of tiny pot-hole gardens.

Known as The Pothole Gardener, Wheen has created buzz in the urban guerrilla garden movement in the UK for more than five years now, going undercover to turn dreary corners in urban streetscapes into tiny colour gardens.

One of the creations in Newtown till the end of September.

One of the creations in Newtown till the end of September.Credit: Christopher Phillips

Having worked on his "passion project" mostly in the UK and Europe, this is the first time he has collaborated with local gardeners and designers to bring the concept to Australia. The idea first bloomed when the young creative was working on a "project around happiness" during his Masters in Design at Central Saint Martins in London.

For Wheen, making city dwellers stop to have a conversation and have a moment of shared happiness has been at the forefront of his work, which has included recreating the Chelsea Gardens, fashion week and even Prince William and Kate's Royal Wedding, all in miniature form.

Steve Wheen creating one of his gardens in London. He has created thousands of them over five-years.

Steve Wheen creating one of his gardens in London. He has created thousands of them over five-years.

"The tiny creations are a respite from the dark, looming cities in which I create them," said Wheen who uses potholes as his canvas.

"I was looking to turn something that annoyed people into a little moment of happiness. Potholes are everywhere in London and other cities, so I started my little gardens," he says.

Having designed the Keri miniature gardens that local gardeners have put together in Newtown, Wheen hopes a similar sentiment translates with Australians. The collaboration for the gardener is about "spark[ing' inadvertent smiles on people's faces," as well as encouraging Australians to take time out of their busy schedule to reconnect with nature by creating beautiful replicas in their neighbourhoods.

"I like the challenge of telling a story with each of my gardens. I don't get very political, although I would love to create rainbow gardens in Australia right now," he says.

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Nature is the focal point of his Australian-designed creations.

Nature is the focal point of his Australian-designed creations.Credit: Christopher Phillips

"The project is all about connections- between people, places and events. I love [to see] people connecting over the gardens, or sharing pictures online."

"There's nothing more satisfying than creating something with your hands and sharing it with the world. It's impossible not to be thinking about the future when you're gardening - and I think that's great for your mind."

The miniature gardens will be a fixture in Newtown till the end of September.

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