More than just a walk around the grounds, the snails pace parade will map out and reveal a space of belonging.

The wonderful thing about snails is that they are at home anywhere. They move through a space, and yet never leave their ‘habitat’. They love to explore the outside, but always attached to their swirl of an inside, keeping them safe, protected. Another great quality of snails is their slowness, their soft and steady pace, and the way they mark each ‘step’ of their way with an iridescent trail – they trace a unique and glimmering pathway, announcing ‘we are here!’ So it was the perfect choice of creature to be the focus for a celebration of the community of patients, outpatients,  hospital workers, gardeners, and artists at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. A community which is also a ‘home’, a ‘pathway’ through a personal landscape, and a ‘movement’ of constant steady care.

Words by Tessa Berring & Images by Albie Clark