Residents gathered at Plymouth Central Park’s Peverell Park entrance on Sunday, 2nd March, to take part in a symbolic Seed Bombing event, protesting against the continued closure of Reservoir Field.
The site at Central Park, once a well-loved green space for picnics, play, and relaxation, has been fenced off by Plymouth City Council for over two years, with little visible progress on promised improvements.
In response, residents scattered native wildflower seeds over the perimeter, taking part in a ‘Seed Bombing’ event.
The event was an opportunity for residents to express their frustration at the barriers that have reduced the once-thriving area to a muddy, inaccessible wasteland.
The event formed part of an ongoing public art project led by an MA Fine Art student Sophie Richmond at Arts University Plymouth, highlighting the loss felt by the local community.
More than 80 people contributed handwritten messages on fabric strips, detailing the personal impact of being cut off from the space. Many reflected on the vital role Reservoir Field played in their daily lives, with one participant writing:
“So this space was turned into a dirt pile and cordoned off just for it to be an unusable eyesore for YEARS?? Plymouth City Council should be embarrassed! The people who decided this may be local but we are! I miss having picnics and running around here with friends and family! Where is your regard for community?”
Another expressed their frustration, writing:
“This has dragged on too long! What used to be a highlight of Peverell is now an eyesore!”
These messages will be documented as part of the wider project, which will continue until the fencing is removed.
With no clear timeline for reopening, the sense of frustration continues to grow.
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For many in Peverell, the wildflower seed bombs serve as both a statement of protest and a hope for regeneration. As one resident put it:
“We would love our park back”
