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.
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.
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!
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/