See the golden seeds protected within the squash In the alcove above the church doorway. Artist Louise Maclaren made a cast of an actual squash, coating it to make a mould. She then poured lime mortar into that shape and let it set slowly over many weeks. Once it was dry she highlighted the womb-like home for the seeds, with colour then with a very thin layer of gold.

The John Innes Centre, on Norwich Research Park have a valuable stock of seeds which could be crucial to our future. They are ‘Heritage’ seed, which are old types of crops not generally grown today. They are looked after, planted and grown so more seeds can be gathered to keep these old varieties alive. These seeds provide the chance to breed crops that we may need in the future. When the local mustard crops began to fail, scientists at John Innes Centre were able to use the mustard seeds saved over the years by Colman's to breed a stronger crop. There are different ways that plant breeding can be done.

You can get your own heritage seeds to grow by joining The Heritage Seed library, run by Garden Organic. They donated many seeds to our project which we have been given away at our events at the Forum and Anglia Square.

See more of Louise’s work at Norwich Cathedral herb garden.