The Friends of the University of Bristol Botanic Garden celebrate their 40th anniversary

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By Helen Roberts

It can be a little difficult to pin down one of the Friends of the University of Bristol Botanic Garden for an interview these days. Between organising the extremely popular Art and Sculpture Festival, planning for 40th anniversary celebrations – which includes a concert this coming Saturday (21st March) – and their own busy lives, the Friends are hard at work. I spoke to Pat Davie, the Chairman of the Friends, about how the Friends began, their role over the years and what they hope to achieve in future. (more…)

The fascination of plants

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By Helen Roberts

For the past three years, the University of Bristol Botanic Garden has hosted Fascination of Plants Day. The event is part of a much larger initiative launched under the umbrella of the European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO). The goal of the day is to get people interested in plants and share the significance of plant science in both the social and environmental arenas. (more…)

The evolution of a predatory plant

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By Nicola Temple

We keep a Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) in our bathroom. My son begged me for it, which inevitably means I look after it. Having seen these carnivorous little delights in the glasshouses at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, I have learned that humidity and moisture are key to its happiness – hence it’s bathroom location and its constant immersion in a tray of water. (more…)

The cosy summer shutdown

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By Andy Winfield

I love this time of year, it may be my favourite time of year although, I do say that in spring… and summer, winter would be stretching it though. Autumn is a cosy summer shutdown, the reservoirs fill up, the trees wind up for the year with fiery leaves falling with the raindrops and as other birds quieten down, robins and crows are the loudest singers in the Garden. The sun is lower in the sky, and when it does emerge it works in partnership with the plants that start to flower now. (more…)