News / Pollinator Pathways Project
Project brings art and wildlife to alleyway
A volunteer-run organisation has transformed a neglected alleyway with planters and murals as part of an effort to create wildlife corridors and revitalise neglected urban spaces.
Pollinator Pathways’ founder Flora Beverley started the project in 2024 to turn neglected urban spaces into mini wildlife corridors.
Now, the group has used funding from the National Lottery and Eastside Community Trust to commission nine new artworks in Easton.
Alongside the murals, the organisation installs planters, which offer the triple benefit of attracting pollinators, reducing flood risk and cooling urban heat spots.
Artists Matt Joyce and Bethan Richards borough a splash of colour to St Mark’s Avenue
Artist Conrico Steez created a mural with the help of Tasha Bee on a house on St Mark’s Avenue, honouring former residents of the property.
“The mural commemorates people who have passed along,” he said.
Steez said the artwork could help improve perceptions of the area: “The alleyway gets a lot of fly-tipping and has been a tag alley for decades.”
He added that new funding could “inject positivity back into the area and show a path to revitalise neglected areas and bring back public appreciation, stop future vandalism and fly-tipping”.
Artist Conrico Steez created a mural with the help of Tasha Bee
Before beginning work in an area, the Pollinator Pathways’ team prioritises consultation with residents.
Flora explained: “Building the project from the community up means people have a sense of ownership over the space. Once we leave, it’s their space to love and grow.”
While artists worked on the murals, several residents regularly stopped by to chat and discuss the project.
Bethan Richards and Matt Joyce used augmented reality software and a digital headset to accurately stencil their mural.
Bethan said community art projects can help make creativity more accessible: “It’s great to brighten things up and give back to a community”.
Their creative process involved using augmented reality software and a digital headset to accurately stencil the mural.
Bethan added that funding had helped make projects like this possible: “The arts in general can be quite gate-kept. Because I’m from a working class background, you think art for a career is not really a possibility.”
Matt agreed, saying: “Funding allowed you to have a space to work on your art which is not always that easy to find. You wouldn’t be able to create this mural without that.”
Elsewhere, Stacey Hames’ botanical illustration of a wildflower meadow has brightened a previously graffitied wall with pink and purple hues.
For more information about Pollinator Pathways, visit www.pollinatorpathways.co.uk
All photos: Luke Buckland
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