COMMON GROUND -

WALSALL ROAD ALLOTMENTS

These tokens are the result of a creative workshop ran by Alice McLean and Justine Boussard in the summer of 2020, for We Are Commoners!, an exhibition and programme by Craftspace Birmingham exploring links between craft practices and the contemporary commons movement.

The tokens celebrate the victorious campaign led by seven cats and several humans in 2019 to protect the Walsall Road Allotments, established in 1907 in Perry Barr, Birmingham, from being destroyed as part of the Commonwealth Games 2022 regeneration masterplan.

In the space of three months, this steadfast community ran a strong campaign that shrewdly built on the internet's fascination for cats to ultimately gather 16,000 signatures from around the world. The seven stray cats who call the allotment their home thus played a key part, notably the charismatic Robert, who you can find on Twitter @AllotmentCat.

As our relationship to land and food alters with the changing climate, we hope to return to more local relationships. We envisage that this act of 'commoning' - the stewardship of a community asset - will bear a great significance for future generations. 

Token designed by Alice McLean, drawing from the creative contributions of:

Betty Farruggia

Chrissie Matthews-Haney

Karen Hermitage

Kate Millington

Leila Scott

Paul Kodiatt

Philip Wood

Sam Roberts

This was a project commissioned and funded by CraftSpace Birmingham, with additional funding for materials provided by The Worshipful Company of Pewterers.