Urban Wilds
A little evolving interactive map of small wild wonders in the city of Naarm!
Urban Wilds is an evolving map of some of the small, surprising ways that both art and nature can appear within our urban landscapes, centred on Greater Melbourne / Naarm - Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country, Australia.
This may be something small like the way a weed grows through the cracks in an alleyway, moss that finds a home on a brick wall, or a tiny flower that you notice blooming beside your foot at the tram stop! You may also be inspired by the ways people celebrate nature through street art, or drawn to a small, surprising installation somewhere. Keep an eye out for guerilla art!
This interactive project is about noticing the wildness that persists amongst concrete and asphalt; and recognising that nature is not only found in green spaces and the wild country spaces, but all around us. It also invites us to notice how artists celebrate or advocate for nature in urban settings.
In essence, this project invites you to pause for a moment and pay attention to your own local neighbourhood, and then to share some of the wonders you may find. Each photo and reflection added here contributes to a collective portrait of nature’s resilience and creativity in urban life.
Contributions can be as simple or as small as you like Indeed, this map is about celebrating all the small things 🌱
How to contribute
Walk & Observe
The invitation here is to take a slow meandering wander through your neighbourhood. Notice something small; a moment where nature or creativity catches your eye.
Take a Photo or Create
Take a photograph or create a small artwork using found or natural materials (please always be mindful of the environment- ephemeral or transient artworks encouraged)
Reflect & Write
Write a few lines (up to 100 words) about what drew you to it or how it made you feel.
Share
Email your photo, short reflection, and the location (suburb or street name) to brionytronson@gmail.com. Feel free to send from your phone; keep file size reasonable (e.g., under 5 MB). I can add your first name or a pseudonym to appear on pin, or you can choose to remain anonymous- please just specify.
I will then add your contribution as a pin on the Urban Wilds map, so others can see and appreciate it.
Pins will be sorted by colours below:
Small Found Creative Wonders
Small Natural Wonders
Little Creations Made by You!
Why join in?
Participating in Urban Wilds is a small act of creative presence and can be such a powerful way to reconnect with your surroundings, slow down and to notice the little things which can so often be overlooked.
I am hoping over time, that this map will become a living record which can act as a beautiful reminder that even in the most built-up places, nature and creativity continue to grow between the cracks.
So, whether you are someone who loves walking your dog, an artist, a gardener or simply curious, your contribution will help to grow a shared story of urban nature and belonging- even if it is in a small way.
Note:
By sending your image, you give permission for it to be displayed on the Urban Wilds map.
Your email will only be used for communication about your submission and never for promotional purposes.
In gratitude
With thanks to Feral Fruit Trees Melbourne, whose Fruit Tree Map helped inspire this project https://feralfruitmelbourne.wordpress.com/76-2/
Urban Wilds is created on Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country, and I pay my respects to Elders past and present. This project is part of my ongoing exploration of art, ecology and connection through Liminal Wilds - an small online place for those who sense the wild in everyday places, and would like to take a moment to pause.
If you wish, you may like to consider supporting Pay the Rent in recognition of First Nations sovereignty