British Science Festival Event Success

 

“The Urbane Forager took a lively crowd through the local common and connected people to their environment and community. There was such a buzz around this event, with people sharing foraging knowledge, apple juice and contact details for future expeditions.”

(Bella, Festival Engagement Manager, British Science Festival)

At the heart of the festival were the talented academics who created and then implemented activities aimed at engaging a diverse audience and showing them the relevance of their work to society.

I led a foraging tour for 30 diverse people through the university campus to Southampton Common, pointing out plants and trees along the way, including hazelnut, blackberry brambles, elder, hawthorn shrubs and apple trees. The group picked some apples and took them back to campus where everyone got involved with chopping and juicing the fruit in my apple press – with delicious results.

The Urbane Forager project aims to explore, engage, inspire, and empower ordinary people to be outdoors more, pay attention to their surroundings, be it city or countryside, observe the seasonal differences in plants and trees, and benefit from harvesting free fruit and nuts. I’m sure we made an impact on the day and hope to hear about the attendees own adventures in the future.

The festival was a great opportunity to reach out, both to those not normally interested and those deeply invested, in science and education, to understand what science really is.

Medlars

One of the young women, a volunteer, said she really enjoyed the whole thing and that she wished her Nan could have joined us because she would have loved the event.

Further reading:

Banned from picking berries on Southampton Common | Daily Echo

The Urbane Forager: Blackberry Ban Battered!

People's National Emergency Briefing

Some of you might already know about Chris Packham's film, for those that don't, I suggest having a good look at what is being proposed. 

There have already been over 3000 community briefings, mostly in the UK, and anyone who wants to do their bit can host the free (but ticketed) film. I'm hosting one myself in Southampton this month. It's very well supported and there are numerous guides and support systems, to make the process as simple as possible. 

The film is not available online or via normal media. The intent is to access government, parliament and the prime minister, as directly as possible with focused petitions and by inviting your local MP to watch screenings of the film.

Seedlings to Soup

Squashes Growing on Bamboo Frame 

Is there anything that gives greater fulfilment that planting a seed, and watching it grow?

Autumnal Chilli

When my son was three, he planted an Apple pip, that grew into a small tree, that was transplanted to our allotment, where it eventually reached twice my height and produced fantastic fruit. 

Squash and Chilli Harvest

Interestingly, every Apple pip will produce its own unique type of Apple tree, the fruit will be quite distinct from the parent tree. This is one reason I don't fret about "Heritage Apples", although, I do have a favourite tree.

Squash, Ready to Roast

Earlier this Spring, I planted some left-over seeds from last year, Squash, Cucumbers and Chilli. To save space, I created a bamboo frame, for the Cucumbers and Squash to grow up. As the plants progressed, I had to train them up the trellis, constantly watering them to mitigate the drought conditions, they soon flowered.

Roast Squash Soup

We ate many of the small Cucumbers in sandwiches, but Autumn is harvesting time. I cut the Squash down and made a super tasty soup, based loosely on a Mary Berry recipe, including home grown Fennel seeds and Chillies for heat. 

Apple, Blackberry, Pear and Quince Crumble

Eating the soup was the culmination of a half-year’s worth of nurturing and tending, it was suitably tasty and satisfying, and I made enough for two days. The Squash’s offering deserved a decent farewell. So, my wife made us a delicious Apple, Blackberry, Pear and Quince Crumble, to top it all off.