The Cambridgeshire Fens have had a strong relationship with plants, water and folk magic for hundreds of years; from Cambridge academics studying the natural world to Fen folk making their living from wetland plants, concocting herbal remedies and often conjuring charms to survive soggy winters and the uncertainty of the seasons.
Join acclaimed authors Ajay and Zoë as they explore the special species, traditions and atmospheres of a landscape shaped by water, steeped in history and shrouded in mystery. They’ll be lifting the lid on local legends, celebrating spring and honouring the land in an intriguing hour of botany and folklore you won’t want to miss.
Ajay Tegala is a wildlife presenter, nature writer, conservationist and naturalist. His new book, Wetland Diaries (The History Press), draws on personal experiences as a countryside ranger at Wicken Fen, the Cambridgeshire reserve famed for cutting edge conservation. Ajay’s BBC credits include Springwatch, Winterwatch, Coast and Countryfile plus regular appearances on Radio Cambridgeshire.
Zoë Howe is an internationally published writer, broadcaster, occasional musician and visual artist. Best known as a music biographer and Soho Radio’s Rock ’n’ Roll Witch, her work spans the worlds of music, culture and magical practice. Her most recent book is Witchful Thinking: The Wise Woman’s Handbook to Creating a Charmed Life (Llewellyn). Zoë is a Royal Literary Fund fellow, recently working with Newnham and Selwyn Colleges, University of Cambridge.
Event information
Admission is £5 per person (children and adults). The price does not include Garden admission.
The talk will take place in the Botanic Garden classroom. Please arrive through the Brookside Bike Park.
The talk will last approximately one hour plus Q&A.
Tickets are non-refundable.
Bookings will close at 2pm the day before the talk.
This talk is part of the Cambridge Nature Festival.
