BSBI Annual Exhibition Meeting

Friday p.m.

• Building a botanical crystal ball: using BSBI records to model possible futures in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss – Simon Smart (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology)
• Findings of our first members’ survey – Sarah Woods (BSBI Fundraising Manager)
• Roots and shoots: my first six months as BSBI’s CEO – Julia Hanmer (BSBI CEO)

Saturday

Welcome/ introduction to the day: Sandy Knapp (BSBI trustee)

Session I: Talks: Disseminating information to drive a passion for plants

• Beginners’ Wildflower ID crib sheets for Wild Flower Hour – Moira O’Donnell (Events & Communications Committee)
• BSBI Handbook on Broomrapes – Chris Thorogood (co-author & illustrator/ Deputy Director and Head of Science at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum
• The Orchid Hunter’s next book – Leif Bersweden (author)

Session II: Panel discussion: How do we build a diverse community of botanists?

• Barriers to including marginalised groups in environmental activities – Mark Hutchinson (Vice-Chair, Sheffield Environmental Movement)
• Botany and the visually-impaired – Falgunee Sarker
• Working with farmers and members of the public: from BSBI outreach to NPWS farm plans – Maria Long (Grassland Ecologist, National Parks and Wildlife Service)
• Engaging the next generation: thoughts from an 18-year old BSBI member – Billy Fullwood

Session III: Talks: How BSBI data & interpretation are helping to address biodiversity loss & climate change

• Forecast: a diary of the lost seasons featuring data from BSBI’s New Year Plant Hunt – Joe Shute (author & journalist)
• The Tree Toolkit to guide conservation & land management (using BSBI data & interpretation) – Jay Doyle (Forestry Commission)
• How BSBI data help the National Trust – Mark Gurney (National Trust)
• How Natural England uses BSBI data – Mags Cousins, Becky Trippier & Karen Kramer Wilson (Natural England)
• 15:30 Award of Presidents’ Prize – Lynne Farrell (BSBI President) and Thank You – Julia Hanmer (BSBI Chief Executive)