Hubs of activities are occurring around Bristol, Cambridge, London, Leicester, Oxford and Norwich. Bristol’s events include a ‘Leafy Murder Mystery’ organised by the British Society for Plant Pathology (BSPP), in which participants will collect information on the viruses, bacteria and fungi causing plant diseases that damage our woodlands and crops. Participants will learn, discover and document their findings using apps and websites, the results of which will contribute to a national plant disease BioBlitz survey.

Fascination of Plants Day covers all plant-related topics including plant science, agriculture, horticulture, environmental conservation, climate change mitigation, smart bioproducts, renewable resources, gardening, forestry, plant breeding, crop protection, food, nutrition, education and art.

The day will build upon the success of the first Fascination of Plants Day, which took place in 2012. The initiative has since grown to include 54 countries across 6 continents, hosting nearly 1000 events worldwide.

All UK events have been coordinated by the UK Plant Sciences Federation (UKPSF), a Special Interest Group of the Society of Biology.

Dr Mimi Tanimoto, executive officer of the UKPSF, says: “Plants are fundamental to our existence, providing us with food, fuel, medicines, plastics, fibres, paper and building materials. We hope that Fascination of Plants Day will inspire people to appreciate the world of diverse plant life and its importance in sustaining a healthy population.”

Everyone is welcome to join this initiative. An up to date list of activities and events running throughout the UK can be found on the Fascination of Plants Day UK homepage.