New mural by artist Tasha Whittle for Cornbrook Tram Station reveals the forgotten histories and the natural environment of the area

Artist Tasha Whittle has created an ambitious, large-scale mural for Cornbrook Tram Station underpass, one of the busiest on the Metrolink network. The project has been commissioned by developers Glenbrook and supported by Castlefield Gallery. 

The stop is named after the now culverted Corn Brook, a tributary of the River Irwell which runs through the area. The mural design is inspired by the little known history of the area, as well as the flora and fauna that now occupies it.

Image Credit: Jody Hartley

Standing on what was Pomona Gardens, a public pleasure ground (also known as Cornbrook Strawberry Gardens), the grounds were purchased and developed by James Reilly in 1868 and included many attractions such as the Royal Pomona Palace and botanical gardens. The gardens were closed in the 1880s as a result of the land being acquired for the extension of the Manchester docks. 

The mural design plays with size, enlarging nature and includes lapwing, skylark, dunnock and bullfinch, birds that can all be spotted in the area. These are hidden within meadowsweet, yellow-wort, exotic looking bee orchid’s, bindweed, set among Whittle’s signature smiling oxeye daisies. 

The artist’s work highlights just how rich the natural environment is in the area, and that we share such spaces with many non-human creatures. Whilst creating the work she was inspired by the idea of nature or wildlife corridors; passageways for wild species that provide safe routes between habitats.  Whittle reminds us we are part of a delicate ecosystem and without it life wouldn't be as colourful, beautiful and unique, and humanity wouldn’t exist as we know it. 

Tasha Whittle is a multidisciplinary artist based in Manchester, UK. She received her BA(Hons) in Illustration and Animation from Manchester School of Art. Her varied practice involves drawing, mural painting, screen printing, site specific installations and interactive analogue sound sculptures. Whittle is fascinated by the connection to space/place, community and how that works within our ecosystem. Her signature style interweaves heartfelt emotions with colour, biophilia, anthropomorphism and uses characters to create landscapes where nature is here and wants to make its presence known. 

Image Credit: Jody Hartley

Founder of Outhouse - an outdoor project space for public art based in various locations around Manchester's Northern Quarter, Whittle has also recently been commissioned by Rochdale City Council (2020),  Manchester International Festival (2019),  Rochdale Pioneers Museum for Uprising Mural Festival (2019), and Manchester City Football Club (2018).