As part of the Sustainability Festival 2023 and under the theme STAYIN ALIVE, this immersive event invited participants to reimagine the ecological value of overlooked green spaces in our cities. Led by the Soft Meadow Collective, the Spontaneous Plants Dérive took festival-goers on a walk through the backstreets of Collingwood, exploring the rich biodiversity that thrives in cracks, corners, and forgotten urban spaces.

With a unique map, zine, and access to a pop-up plant library, participants engaged in thoughtful dialogue about spontaneous plant life—resilient species that colonise disturbed areas without human cultivation. These plants—often dismissed as "weeds"—are revealed as vital allies in mitigating climate change, creating pollinator pathways, improving soil health, and reducing urban heat islands.

This dérive (a dérive is a purposeful drift through a landscape) encouraged people to slow down and notice the beauty, intelligence, and quiet activism of plant life pushing up through the cracks. It was an invitation to reconnect with nature in everyday urban environments and reflect on how even the smallest ecosystems can inspire large-scale ecological action.

Photography Rory Daniel

Supported by Climate Small Action Grant, City of Yarra