United Kingdom
The seventh international “Fascination of Plants Day” around 18 May 2024 will be launched by plant scientists across the world under the umbrella of the European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO).
The goal of this activity is to get as many people as possible around the world fascinated by plants and enthused about the importance of plant science for agriculture and sustainable production of nutritious food, as well as for horticulture, forestry and the production of plant-based non-food products such as paper, timber, chemicals, energy and pharmaceuticals. The role of plants in environmental conservation is also a key message.
As part of UK Meadows Day and Fascination of Plants Day 2024, we will open our meadows to the public, offering bug hunting and meadow plants guided tours, educational activities, and a chance to explore these vital habitats. This event will celebrate the beauty and importance of wildflower meadows.
Tickets:
£3 per child (under-2s free, adults will need to pay normal entrance fee)
No need to book, pay on arrival.
Join us at Rothamsted to celebrate Fascination of Plants Day! Take a plant promenade with our scientists on one, or both, of the tours below:
2pm-3pm: Weed Whisperers – Meet the weeds living on the world’s longest running experiment – Broadbalk.
4pm-5pm: Arboreal Ailments: can science save our woodlands? Spot the signs of tree disease with the scientists working to save them.
Come along and enjoy a Strawberry Tea at Lindy’s tearoom at Hansel on Saturday 18th May, which is Fascination of Plants Day 2024 🍓
Arrive for lunch at 12 noon followed by a hanging basket demonstration by our Grounds Maintenance Supervisor, Sheena at 1pm. Sheena’s demo will have a positive environmental theme on how to plant a basket to encourage nature into your garden🐝
There will also be a raffle on the day.
Tickets are only £15, (£12 if purchased before 1st May 2024) and can be purchased directly from Lindy’s tearoom or by calling 01563 831437.
The University of Manchester Botanical Grounds, “The Firs” is a hidden oasis in South Manchester. Located in the suburb of Fallowfield, in grounds bequeathed to the University by Victorian industrialist Sir Joseph Whitworth, the site has been a centre for plant-based research and teaching for over a century. It is home to an historic living plant collection, including greenhouses and outdoor spaces.
This event is a chance to visit our garden and contribute to our plans to develop it into a botanical garden for Manchester. During the day, we will have a series of talks, tours and displays and you will have the chance to enjoy this hidden quiet space in busy south Manchester.
Celebrate Fascination of Plants Day with a free family event at Glasgow Botanic Gardens. Researchers from University of Glasgow, including the team behind SciSeedlets, will be bringing a range of fun hands-on activities to help you see plants in a whole new way!
In 1492 Christopher Columbus arrived in the “New World”- the Americas- opening an era of trans-oceanic traveling that lead to a large number of plants and animals moving between Europe and the Americas at the end of the 15th Century and during the 16th Century. This exchange shaped the crops that we produce and eat now.
Many of those countries that gave to the world the crops that we eat, are also centers of diversity, and hold cultivar varieties adapted to challenging environments.
Come to discover with us, which cultivars originated in the “Old World”, which in the “New World” and discover the ancestral varieties of a key crop: Tomato.
Where did tomato came from?, why are the ancestral varieties so interesting and relevant to us now? Adopt one of them for your home and discover how it looks like!.
Come to the University of Dundee Botanic Garden for this free family event. Meet scientists from the University of Dundee and the James Hutton Institute who will have fun activities to get involved with showcasing the amazing power of plants! If you cannot make it in person, you can explore activities online as well with our virtual version.
Launch your seed helicopter from our balcony and discover how trees spread in the wild, as well as how we plant and identify tree species around Leeds. This stall is part of Be Curious, the University of Leeds’ annual family open day. Each year we turn the campus into a hive of free family-friendly activities. Come along and get hands on with the research that happens right here in Leeds.
Visit us in Lancaster Market, this Saturday, May 18th to discover fascinating aspects of plants! There will be exciting activities, and we will show you a trail with green areas and parks in Lancaster that you can visit at your own pace during the day. So bring comfortable shoes!
A series of events across Aberdeen will highlight the importance of plants to society.
Activities range from plant sales to workshops exploring the impact of plants on our senses from testing your sense of smell in ‘a herb identifying challenge’ to identifying whether you are a super-taster and might have the bitter-tasting version of the TAS2R38 gene. Visually an open lecture will view gardens through the senses of the Impressionists from Europe, North America and Australia.
The programme is part of the annual Fascination of Plants Day, which encourages people to learn more about the importance of plants and plant science from providing the air we breathe to the sustainable production of nutritious food. In our workshops we will explore the huge range of biodiversity that depends on our plants and how plants themselves interact with animals and fungi to improve the diets and health of humans and animals.
Enter the hidden world of mosses with Max Coleman and Neil Bell at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on a tour exploring these overlooked but diverse and important plants. www.instagram.com/rbgedinburgh/
To mark Fascination of Plants Day and Mental Health Awareness Week, you can come to the Library’s Archives Research Centre to see a selection of our holdings related to botany and plants. You can either pop in for a short visit or stay longer to read some of our books to take a break from your studies or work.
Pleasure reading and plants have been shown in research to help reduce stress. A study by Mindlab International at the University of Sussex found that reading for pleasure was able to reduce stress levels by 68%. Being around plants has also been shown to improve the levels of our stress hormone cortisol in our body.
How do plant scientists at Lancaster University investigate plants? The Lancaster University Library will host an exhibition showcasing the beginnings, past and present in Plant and Crop Science research.
How do you imagine the future of plant research??
This Community Network Lunch is a unique opportunity to learn more about Black in Plant Science, share experiences, and build valuable connections with like-minded individuals.
Whether you’re a student, researcher, or industry professional, this event offers a supportive space to discuss challenges and opportunities in the world of plant science. Get to know our committee members, help us shape the future of this initiative, and expand your network.
During this lunch hour (and a half), we will also announce the Black in Plant Science Research Excellence Award winners.
We look forward to seeing you there!