Following our post on the impact of our 'Beyond the Bassline' exhibition nationwide, we’re sharing how last summer’s exhibition, 'Unearthed: The Power of Gardening', made a difference at public libraries up and down the UK.
11 March 2026Blog series Knowledge Matters
Opening alongside our main exhibition at the British Library in St Pancras, Unearthed displays travelled to more than 80 libraries across the UK, reaching over 800,000 people between May and August 2025.
Exploring the transformative, enriching and sometimes radical power of gardening and the impact it has on people’s lives, communities and the environment, library services created their own programmes alongside the exhibition, with over 370 gardening-related events, displays and activities. The exhibition was impactful in connecting communities, with libraries using their outdoor spaces in new ways, developing local partnerships and signposting to local groups and initiatives.
Libraries took the opportunity to blur the boundaries between their inside and outside spaces, taking creative approaches to developing green initiatives such as seed banks.
67% of the Unearthed audience agreed that they would like to see more events taking place outside or in green spaces at libraries, and 75% of libraries are already using outdoor library spaces in new ways or are planning to do so.
The Unearthed panel display at Jersey Library. @ Jersey Library
The Unearthed programme gave audiences a new understanding and awareness of the wider range of opportunities that libraries offer, deepening audiences’ engagement with libraries and reinforcing that libraries are positive and welcoming spaces, especially for children and families.
53% of the Unearthed audience said that their feelings of what a library can be used for had changed and 59% agreed that engagement with the programme had made them feel more positively about the library they attended.
“I did not know that they [the library] also do some workshops, some things to keep the kids engaged… It was a new experience, and I'm happy to get to know all these things.” (focus group participant)
The Unearthed programme engaged a much more representative audience than is often seen across the arts and cultural sector, with 26% of the audience coming from lower culturally engaged groups.
Following the significant engagement of the Global Majority audience during the Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music exhibition programme, the Unearthed programme also saw continued engagement with the Global Majority audience, demonstrating the impact and legacy of the previous exhibition. ‘It provided an opportunity to showcase some of our services’ special collections to a community who may not have had the opportunity to see them. It also brings these special collections to some of the more disadvantaged populations within the city.’ (Staff survey respondent)
@ Jersey Library
The programme raised awareness and understanding of the importance of protecting and cherishing green spaces within the community.
Libraries collaborated with community partners for their Unearthed programming and found ways to continue to develop these relationships. 92% of libraries are already using or planning to use library space and resources in other ways to support wider community engagement.
'It felt like a good chance to reach out to different groups… With gardening, we've certainly taken the opportunity to reach out to local gardening groups and people we know are interested in the topic' (Library staff interview).
The gardening theme of Unearthed created new opportunities for learning and inspiration. 89% of library staff indicated that the skills and learning they achieved through the delivery of Unearthed would be applied to future activity.
For library audiences, 51% said that they will explore or engage further with the topic, and 32% stating that they will borrow a book on the subjects covered.
'I felt like the library volunteers and staff really cared about the exhibition and wanted to inform others about the interesting things there were to learn' (focus group participant).
Through the Unearthed programme at partner libraries, staff and visitors embraced the theme of gardening to learn new skills, get creative and make a positive impact in their local communities.
Read the report to discover the exhibition’s legacy around the UK.
This blog is part of our main British Library series, Knowledge Matters. Join us to look at the strategic bigger picture at the UK national library and get behind the scenes on a wide range of activities, projects and programmes. It features contributions by experts and managers from across the Library’s departments and locations.
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