The ‘Tablecloth as Toolkit’ was a new commission for the Horizon Garden exhibition at Ty Pawb. Produced by artist Owen Griffiths and AAU activist/curator Alessandra Saviotti, the ‘Tablecloth as Toolkit’ offers an opportunity for a group of people, drawn together from different backgrounds, to talk through key themes and issues. After a meal together, and using a series of prompts, which are provided on the napkins, the meals hosts (Grffiths and Saviotti) ask the guests to talk about ideas and inspirations that are important to them. In doing so, guests are encouraged to think together, connect and discuss how they might begin to plan and effect real world long term change.

On April 6^th 2023 I was invited in my capacity as an Advisory Board member for Ty Pawb to join and engage in one of these shared meals, I was able to contribute to a group discussion about how Ty Pawb, via the ongoing development of its roof top garden, might best join up with, and contribute too, a developing network of growing projects in the North Wales and Wrexham region

 though mutually and served as an important way to activate dialogue within the exhibition came about as part of an ongoing process of developing a community growing space on the roof of Ty Pawb. Through this process Ty Pawb has become part of a network of community growing projects in the region.

In addition to our hosts Owen Griffiths and Alexandra Saviotti, other invited guests included: Ian Bancroft – Chief Executive, Wrexham Council, Councillor Hugh Jones – Lead member for Environment, with responsibility for Ty Pawb and City of Culture, Marja Bonada – Freelance artist and gardener, lead artist for development of the roof garden at Ty Pawb with KIM Inspire, Morag Colquhoun – artist and environmentalist, exhibited as part of Horizon Garden, Andrew Collings – Horticulturalist and food growing advisor, Katherine Saxby – Founder of Incredible Edibles Wrexham, and Complementary Healthcare Provider and Christopher Hall – Director Incredible Edibles Wrexham.

The idea that the group concluded with would be the ambition to meet again for a meal in three years time and to see how ideas, actions and ambitions have progressed.