Welcome to the first online Festival of Plants!
Each day has a different theme – Plant Science, Horticulture and Conservation – and there will be talks, tours and events every day that explore these themes in detail.
There is an interactive live event each day – a Facebook live about plants, bees and pollination on Day 1; a Twitter takeover on Day 2 when you can ask our panel of horticulture experts all your gardening questions; and a Facebook live on Day 3 about the Garden’s conservation work and how we help protect endangered species from around the world.
On top of that we have a host of experts, activities and films that explore the wonderful world of plants.
There will be more to find out every day so please do visit every day to see whats new – we hope that you enjoy the Festival!
Live Session
Facebook Live, 4.30pm – Join CUBG Director, Professor Beverley Glover, as she explains how the Garden chooses which plants are most attractive to pollinators, and why. This will be a Facebook Live talk with the opportunity to ask Beverley questions. Please go to the Garden’s Facebook page to watch and take part.
If you would like to send a question in advance, please email us.
All day
Talks and Films – Explore the fascinating world of plants as Plant Science researchers from around Cambridge University tell us about their research into subjects such as crop diversity and sustainable food systems. Answering the question ‘Why don’t bananas have seeds?’ and looking at plant hormones and genetics to see how we can grow the most successful crops. Discover how plant science is trying to answer some of today’s most important questions.
Plant Science Video Library – Catch up on some of the latest Plant Science news and research in a video library of news and updates from Cambridge University Plant Scientists – from discovering the Amazon’s tallest tree to helping flowers find the best pollinators, exploring the genetics of ‘twin’ plants and looking at how the first land plants created defences against microbial parasites.
Live session
Twitter Takeover! 4-5pm – Ask our experts your gardening questions – just send a tweet to @CUBotanicGarden with the hastag #FoP20 and one of our team of experts will do their best to help.
If you would like to send questions in advance, please tweet as above, or email them.
All day
Talks – Find out what the Garden’s Trainees enjoy most about their work at the Garden.
Tours – Take a long tour through the Glasshouse Range to see some of the stunning exotic blooms and explore the upper canopy that isn’t usually open to the public.
Join the Head of Horticulture on a seasonal highlights tour of the Garden, and explore the ‘behind the scenes’ areas of the Garden.
Gardening Hints and Tips from CUBG’s Head of Horticulture.
Live session
Facebook Live, 4.30pm – Join our Curator, Dr Sam Brockington, for a walk around the Garden where he will talk about the endangered plants in the Collection and the Garden’s Collection Strategy – how it affects the planting and how we fit within the world-wide network of botanic gardens. Please go to the Garden’s Facebook page to watch and take part.
If you would like to send a question in advance, please email it to us.
All day
Plant conservation around the world – Find out how botanic gardens help protect the world’s plant diversity.
Plant conservation stories of hope – Meet a group of plants growing at CUBG that have inspirational and interesting conservation stories.
Conservation resources – Find out what you can do to get involved with plant conservation.
Talks – Students passionately explain why plants (and their favourites in particular) are important in Phyte Club: In Defense of Plants.
We are very grateful to CamPlants for supporting the Festival of Plants.
