NATIVE plants and wildflowers are the inspiration behind a new project to create a giant patchwork quilt.

Salisbury-based charity Planlife is hoping to get people in the city involved in creating a Patchwork Meadow to bring together the story of Britain’s wildflowers.

The charity is asking people to get stitching to create a square for the quilt.

Seona Anderson from Plantlife said: “From the Bayeux Tapestry, through to William Morris, from Celia Birtwell to Grayson Perry, Britain has a tradition of celebrating diversity in textile design that we want to tap into. “We want to celebrate this love of wild plants by asking the nation to help us create a patchwork of artwork and stories from across the range of Britain’s natural and cultural diversity.”

People should make squares that are 15cm x 15cm, made of fabric and can be sewn, woven, painted, printed, felted, beaded, or made of lace.

Each square should have the name of the person (or organisation) that made it and the name or names of the plant. The design can be a realistic depiction, a landscape or cultural setting, or an abstract design based on all or part of the plant. Plants can be flowers, grasses, trees, fungi, mosses, algae, and should currently grow wild in the UK countryside.

Once completed the Patchwork Meadow will start on a series of exhibitions around the UK, beginning at the Wild North Festival in Caithness and Sutherland.

A Patchwork Meadow evening is being held at Plantlife, Rollestone Street, on Wednesday, November 21 at 6.30pm where people can find out more about the project.

Those who would like to go along are asked to let the charity know on 01722 342730 or patchworkmeadow@plantlife.org.uk.