Kokova Magazine

From the 3rd to the 11th August 2013, Manchester will play host to urban gardening festival Dig The City.

The event will see the city centre transformed into a nature wonderland as Manchester's retailers, restaurants and food producers join forces to celebrate the growing culture of city greening and sustainable food production.

Launching the exciting calendar of events is Monty Don, the UK's leading horticulturist and presenter of Gardener's World. Monty has graced gardens on our TV screens for over twenty years and published over 20 books, including The Sensuous Garden and Urban Jungle.

Monty became the lead presenter for the BBC flagship programme Gardeners' World between 2003 and 2008 and then again from 2011 when Monty began hosting Gardeners' World from his home Longmeadow in Herefordshire.

Last year Monty presented a series on Italian Gardens on BBC Two which was followed earlier this year by another on French Gardens.

At Dig the City on Saturday 3rd August, Monty will be hosting two gardening talks. Firstly, "Is Gardening only for the Middle Aged?” which is aimed at the importance of inspiring children to take up an interest in gardening. It will address issues surrounding teaching gardening in both schools and at home.

Later in the day Monty will present an inspiring talk called "Down to Earth", during which Monty will talk about his life, loves and passion for gardening and how this has influenced his life. Monty Don has struggled with bouts of depression and credits his recovery to the making of his garden.

Success in gardening, for adults as well as children, should not be measured, but experienced. It is the process of acquiring that experience that is so beneficial to everyone. It is really important that everybody gardens, however they can, even in the centre of a great city like Manchester. I hope my talks at Dig the City on 3rd August will help inspire, encourage and inform.

Dig the City is the first event to be delivered by the city's new Business Improvement District - Heart of Manchester BID – an independent not-for-profit company governed by a board of city centre retailers and stakeholders. Dig the City is part of a five year programme which aims to create a greener Manchester and promote initiatives which increase footfall and retail spend in the city centre.

We're glad to have Monty on board for Manchester's Dig the City festival. Dig the City will showcase the innovation and creativity of Manchester's budding urban greening movement and entertain and inspire visitors, shoppers, tourist and residents with an exciting and contemporary programme. We believe that as our city grows we have a duty to ensure it supports the environment through the introduction of green initiatives.

Simon Binns, Manager of The Heart of Manchester BID

Dig the City is an ambitious and large-scale event that comes hot on the heels of Manchester International Festival and a strong summer of arts, music and public events across the city.
www.digthecity.co.uk

Inflatable Art to create a buzz at Manchester's Urban Greening Festival

World renowned US artist Jason Hackenwerth has unveiled his plans for a range of stunning new pieces specially commissioned for the forthcoming Dig the City in Manchester.

Entitled Dance of the Honey Bee, Jason Hackenwerth's creations will pay homage to the very symbol of Manchester, the bee (seven bees were incorporated into the city's coat of arms in 1842, and the symbol has been in use ever since).

In a recent site trip to the city, Hackenwerth visited Manchester Museum of Science and Industry and was shown the vast botany and entomology collection by Entomology Dept. Assistant Curator Phil Rispin. As a result of this trip, Hackenwerth's work for Dig the City takes direct inspiration from the harmony of flora, fauna and bees.

Dance of The Honey Bee will interpret the complex and beautiful organisms that make up the living world and fill our lives with wonder. When I visited Manchester I soaked up so many ideas, and my work for Dig the City is going to reflect the magnificence of the Manchester collection and of nature's wonders.

Known for his outsized sculptures made from latex, the first part of Hackenwerth's Dig the City commission will amaze festival-goers. Using vibrant warm yellow to bright green colour gradients and blush pinks and orange colours, the sculptures will also use lights and sounds of birds, and to really bring the pieces to life. The sculptures will also move and shake as a performance.

The second set of sculptures will be created as the festival takes place, being installed to mark the second weekend of major events - seeing the old sculptures released to roam the entire festival site and entice visitors to explore the possibilities of Dig the City.

Born in St Louis, Jason now lives and works in New York and has exhibited his work around the world at galleries and museums including the Guggenheim in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and at the 51st Venice Biennale as well as in Hong Kong and Mexico.