The School of Art & Design Textiles workshop, led by Rebecca Mayo, has planted their first crop of Linum marginale (Native Flax). The garden is situated in the Ceramics Courtyard. It is a pilot for more ambitious gardening plans in and around the school. European flax (Linum usitatissimum) is a domesticated species grown and processed into linen and linseeds. Our garden will experiment with growing the Australian species of flax. We aim to process the fibre and create woven linen cloth. This project will combine research-led teaching and student engagement in two textiles courses: The Woven World, and Plants and Place. The fibre and dye garden aligns with the Art, Politics and Social Engagement and the NatureXCulture research hubs, both of which Rebecca contributes to.

Please come by and visit the garden, it will flower biannually, in November and May. A big thanks to students Wendy Dawes and Miriam Penrose for their help with planting, and to Tim Woolner, School of Art & Design Gardener, for his expertise and hard work.