Speaker: Prof Jon Copley (Univ of Southampton) This talk explores the patterns of life at hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor, where chemosynthesis sustains colonies…

Speaker: Dr Brian Ferry (Royal Holloway College) From 1990-2010 Brian made annual visits to the eastern Pyrenees where he made detailed studies of the flora.…

Speaker: Dr Tim Rich (BSBI) There are many groups of plants which are difficult to identify, but relatively few botanists are interested in tackling them.…

Our Annual General Meeting closes the winter programme. There will also be short talks by members and a book sale.

Speaker: Ailsa Claybourn *** Change to published programme *** There is a remarkable number of birds in Shakespeare’s writing: What is a ‘hernshaw’, and how…

Speaker: Matthew Ordidge (University of Reading) Matthew is Scientific Curator of the UK National Fruit Collection. He will talk about the work the University carries…

Speaker: Professor Stephen Harris (University of Oxford) Pharmacist George Claridge Druce (1850-1932) was a self-made man who became a prominent botanist and politician during the…

Speaker: Professor Martin Lukac (University of Reading) There is urgent need to remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it for the long term. With…

Speaker: Richard Jones Dung is a 4-letter word, but nothing to get disgusted about – it is simply pre-used food, still full of nutrients. The…

Our annual members' Christmas party with quizzes, food and drink. The photographic competition will also be held. 2023 winner for 'on the doorstep' category: Tawny…