The Second Harvest explores what a city can gather before it goes to waste. At the Autumn Equinox, the Wayward Plants Reuse Centre at Cultivate Colindale brings together plants, food, timber, clay, objects, seeds and skills that have been overlooked or discarded. Across a day of collecting, making, repairing, exchanging and eating, these resources will be prepared for their next life and returned to the community. More than a traditional harvest festival, the event celebrates the abundance around us and asks how collective action can keep it in circulation.
Bring home a living piece of the Barbican Conservatory at this special afternoon for Young Barbican Members (ages 16-29), with plant adoptions and interactive sessions.
Wayward Plants hosts a plant adoption session, sharing the stories and care needs of a wide range of specimens we have been propogating. While you're there, you can also visit the host plants from which cuttings have been taken and then take a plant to continue growing at home.
Ahead of the Barbican Conservatory’s major restoration, Wayward Plants are carefully taking thousands of cuttings from a wide range of specimens and propagating them at their reuse centre into new plants to be adopted.
Ahead of the Barbican Conservatory’s major restoration, Wayward Plants are carefully taking thousands of cuttings from a wide range of specimens and propagating them at their reuse centre into new plants to be adopted.
Wayward Plants will lead the adoption process, where you’ll be able to learn about the different specimen types and how to care for them, visit the host plants from which cuttings have been taken, and take a plant to continue growing at home.
As part of the London Festival of Architecture 2026, the summer solstice will mark the opening of the Wayward Plants Reuse Centre at Cultivate Colindale. The programme will include an exhibition celebrating 20 years of Wayward Plants, work from The Bartlett’s Bio-Integrated Design programme, and creative workshops led by artists and collaborators. Throughout the longest day, rescued plants will find new homes before visitors gather around the fire for a communal feast and solstice celebration.
