Last Ditch Attempt – Fine Art graduates create mobile seed library Published on: 13 April 2018 A self-built tandem trike is to travel around 鶹ý and Gateshead dispensing seed pods as part of an exciting new art project. Plaster seed pods Last Ditch Attempt has been created by 鶹ý graduates David Lisser and Lucien Anderson as part of a wider North East exhibition. Inspired by the flooding of the Svalbard Seed Vault – a facility which holds a wide range of plant seeds to guard against the loss of species – they have created 300 plaster seed pods which will be distributed in the town and city. Each pod is made up of seeds including pea, bean, kale, courgette and onion seeds. “We’ve included things which are easy to grow,” explains David. “We hope some people will keep them and make 鶹ý and Gateshead, and possibly the wider North East, a dispersed seed bank. And, of course, some people might just want to use the seeds and grow some vegetables. “The idea came about after hearing about the flood last year at the Svalbard Seed Vault. It seemed obvious that maybe having everything in one place was not such a good idea after all.” Lucien Anderson and David Lisser on their self-built trike. Image by Lorna Bryant Long-term test bed The duo will get on their tandem trike, which they constructed themselves out of donated bikes and other parts, and head to Gateshead Town Centre to give out the pods and talk to people before cycling over the Tyne Bridge to Northumberland Street on Saturday (14 April). Then on 28 and 29th of April, they will be heading to LOT, a new art space in the Ouseburn Valley, where they will be planting seeds and establishing a long-term test bed for seed harvesting and storage methods. “We’ve very much thrown ourselves in at the deep end,” says Lucien. “Neither of us knew much about seed harvesting and storage and building the trike was particularly challenging. “We still wouldn’t call ourselves experts and we’re keen to learn alongside the people we engage with throughout the project. I hope people will look at our work and think ‘I can do that too.'” Deep Adaptation Last Ditch Attempt is part of , an ongoing programme of commissions, talks, screenings, workshops and events organised by artist led community, , which was founded by 鶹ý graduates. The event explores how current social, political, civic and economic issues can be understood in relation to climate change, in particular looking at: ● Relinquishment - people and communities letting go of certain assets, behaviors and beliefs where retaining them could make matters worse● Resilience - people and communities better coping with disruptions● Restoration - rediscovering forgotten attitudes and approaches to life, such as increased community-level productivity and support The Deep Adaptation exhibition, will feature work by artists Rhona Foster, Alex Lockwood, Chad McCail, will go on show at The Newbridge gallery in Gateshead on Saturday 14 April until Saturday 19 May. A series of events around the themes will also take place until Saturday 19 May. Share: Latest News Scientists unlock hidden driver of inflammatory bowel disease Scientists have linked a key genetic signal in inflammatory bowel disease to an immune response that shuts down inflammation control, enabling faster diagnosis and targeted treatments. published on: 15 June 2026 Funding system risks limiting genuine community collaboration A new policy paper written by researchers at 鶹ý warns that the way UK research is funded may be undermining efforts to create genuinely collaborative partnerships with communities. published on: 15 June 2026 Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from 鶹ý to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Facts and figures