Where the built-up shopping centre Broadmead now stands, once stood a wildflower meadow and woodland. Now, two Bristol-based artists are taking the city centre back to its past by making it its future. Sylvia Rimat and Charli Clark are launching the free public art installation Broad Meadow this June and helping the busy shopping district bloom once again.
Growing over the next three years, Broad Meadow will invite you to sit among vibrant wildflowers, breathe in the floral scents, and listen to a specially created audio piece that “explores our deep-rooted connection with the plant world.” (You’ll need a pair of headphones and access to a smartphone to listen to the full sound experience.)
What is this free public artwork like?
The audio is designed to evoke the lost landscapes of central Bristol—from the Neolithic woodland to the 11th-century wet meadow regularly flooded by the River Frome. Meanwhile, designed with biodiversity and history in mind, the installation features carefully selected wildflowers that mirror those that may have once grown in the area.
How can I see Broad Meadow?
After an initial success at Mayfest last year, Broad Meadow will grow in three city centre locations:
- Broadmead West (outside The Arcade)
- Merchant Street South (near the corner of Philadelphia Street)
- Merchant Street North (near TK Maxx)
It will be free to access 24 hours from 2025 to 2028. An official launch event will take place on Saturday, June 7, with free family arts and crafts activities (for ages 3-10) at Broadmead West from 2 to 5pm. No booking required, just turn up!
Then, from 6 to 8pm, at John Wesley’s New Room Courtyard, Broad Meadow’s lead artists will celebrate with a talk by Regenerative Architect, Urban Designer and Educator Funda Kemal, discussing the importance of protecting habitats for all species. (Get your free ticket here.)
To learn more about Broad Meadow head here.