On Friday 2 September a spectacular garden opened in Birmingham’s Victoria Square for the festival PoliNations, which will host a 17-day programme of free events suitable for people of all ages and exploring the UK’s diversity through the lens of its plant life. Commissioned by UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK, PoliNations is part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival and is taking place as the city celebrates hosting a hugely successful Commonwealth Games. It is presented with the support of Birmingham City Council.

The garden is made up of five towering tree installations reaching 40ft high, beds of over 6,000 plants and flowers, and sculptures inspired by ‘iconic plants’ which despite being non-native have become staples of UK gardens. Over the opening weekend (2-4 September), PoliNations saw hundreds of people from across Birmingham plant marigolds in the garden, which they have been growing in their homes and community spaces across the city over the past four months.

Inspired by new research that almost 80% of plants in gardens across UK cities come from overseas, PoliNations will celebrate how migration and cross-pollination have shaped Britain’s gardens and culture. The programme includes daily garden tours led by Birmingham Botanical Gardens, lunchtime talks exploring issues from sustainability to decolonisation, and magical evening light and sound show the Sunset Shift.

Across the second and third weekends, PoliNations will present live performances spanning music, spoken word, dance and drag, spotlighting talent from South Asian and Black communities from Birmingham and beyond. A weekend in collaboration with BBC Contains Strong Language (8-11 September) saw spoken word and poetry by performers including award-winning saxophonist and poet Soweto Kinch, and multiple slam champion and Birmingham Poet Laureate Finalist Jasmine Gardosi.

At the end of PoliNations, the garden’s plants and shrubs will be redistributed throughout the city via local community groups and members of the public, who are invited to take a plant home with them during the Plant Giveaway on Sunday 18 September. For those unable to attend the festival in person, the PoliNations app invites everyone, wherever they live, to express themselves by creating a supernatural plant inspired by their emotions, opinions, and desires. Each unique digital seed will grow into a virtual flower, which can be “planted” in their own home, workplace or other space using augmented reality, and added to a virtual super garden.

Visitors will discover vibrant Rangoli street art by Ranbir Kaur unfolding across Chamberlain Square and Victoria Square and will be able to have their hands decorated by henna artists. Tuk Tuk Chai Wallah in partnership with Dishoom Restaurants will be a place to enjoy a cup of tea every day, whilst exploring the history of the beverage and its journey to the UK. From Soil to Sip will invite participants to discover fragrant seeds and plants and brew the perfect mix of herbs and spices. This sensory experience is presented by performance company, Spectra, who hold neurodiversity at the heart of their work.

At the TukTuk visitors will also encounter dance performances led by renowned contemporary Khatak dancer Jaivant Patel, and performers dressed in specially designed costumes as part of a partnership with British Council - Pakistan/UK: New Perspectives 2022, PoliNations. Touch Tours of the super garden will also be offered across on selected days for the site for those who are blind, partially sighted or would benefit from a tour of the site exploring textures and sounds.