An extraordinary petal patchwork blanket—woven with care, color, and community spirit—has emerged from a collaboration between award-winning artist Salma Zulfiqar and the National Trust. The project, described as a “biodiversity blanket,” uses pressed flowers collected from two historic National Trust gardens: Packwood House and Baddesley Clinton, located along the Solihull and Warwickshire border.
The vibrant quilt, composed of hexagonal floral patches, was crafted with the help of almost 100 participants, including school children and individuals from marginalized backgrounds, invited by Zulfiqar to partake in the co-creation. “We had almost 100 people working on this, so each piece you see is a reflection of their learning in the workshops that we did,” said Ms. Zulfiqar.
The project not only celebrates creative expression but also environmental learning. Over the last six months, Zulfiqar collaborated closely with Packwood’s head gardener to collect, dry, and press various flowers with both aesthetic and medicinal significance.
A closer look at the quilt reveals delicate pressed orange blooms, affixed to pastel fabric, interwoven with painted blue and green motifs. Each “petal,” as the patches are called, was developed during community workshops designed to highlight the value and diversity of local flora.“We collected lots of flowers from the grounds which have medicinal value, and used them in the workshops to create the sections, which we call petals,” she explained.
“We wanted the blanket to reflect all of the beautiful flowers you can find at Packwood and help people learn about their value.”
This biodiversity blanket serves as a living archive of botanical beauty and cultural inclusivity. Zulfiqar emphasized how the experience served to empower and unify participants:“I worked with young women from around the area and it gave them an enjoyable experience and helped bring them together as a community.”
A National Trust spokesperson elaborated on the thoughtful selection of flora for the project, noting their utility alongside their visual appeal. “Examples of this are pressed catkins from hazel plants—Corylus avellana—which produce edible hazelnuts, and pressed hellebore flowers which are the source of compounds being researched as potential future medicines,” they said.
The result is more than just a textile artwork—it is a symbol of healing, education, sustainability, and the power of collective creativity. Set against the backdrop of Packwood’s rich natural heritage, the quilt bridges traditional craft with contemporary ecological awareness.
By blending nature’s medicine with human stories stitched into petals, the patchwork blanket stands as a testimony to the intersection of environment, wellness, and art—a statement that is as beautiful as it is meaningful.
