'The Wonder of Plants' by Matthew Biggs

Matthew Biggs, gardener, author and broadcaster is probably  best known for his appearances on BBC Radio 4's Gardeners' Question Time

Have you ever wondered how cacti survive the extremes of the desert, how the ‘Venus Flytrap’ captures its prey or intricate orchid flowers are pollinated? This lecture is an opportunity to look closely at the complex survival mechanisms of plants and to marvel how they survive in extreme climates and integrate with other marvels of the natural world.

 As we journey across the world, you will be introduced to amazing plants from some of the world’s most extreme habitats, from the high-altitude Andes to the humid Amazon rainforest and arid American deserts. With the focus on plant pollination, he reveals the secrets of the ‘Giant Water Lily’ and the smallest waterlily in the world, the unusual diets of ‘carnivorous’ plants, the survival strategies of cacti and much more. 

There’s much more to the botanical world than meets the eye. Welcome to the wonderful world of plants!

The evening will include a plant sale of both common,  rare and unusual plants grown by Surrey Group Members, a raffle and the opportunity to enter the 'Flower of the Meeting Competition'. 

Doors open 7:00pm talk starts 7:30pm

Refreshments will be available.

If you are unable to join us physically in Cobham but would like to join us this talk will be given via Zoom.  An invitation will be sent out to all Surrey Group Members for whom we hold an email address a few days before the talk.  If you are not a Surrey Group Member, but would like to join us for the talk, it is available for free to all Plant Heritage members and a suggested donation of £4 to the Surrey Group for non-members.  Please contact us at surreyph@gmail.com for an invitation and information.