St Andrews Botanic Gardens 2nd February

Ecologist Harry Watkins addressed the club via Zoom, discussing his work at St Andrews Botanic Garden, in particular the 'Tangled Bank' project for vulnerable adults. The gardens have faced many challenges over the past two years, including maintenance deficits, asbestos removal, a layout unchanged from the 1960s and not adapting to new thinking about evolution and ecology. Harry explained the two factors that limit the growth of plants: stress and disturbance. Every combination of high/low stress and high/low disturbance can occur and plants have evolved strategies for coping with them. Harry described how the 'Tangled Bank' project has applied an analogous ecological strategy to the redesign of the garden, which is being carried out in phases. The former shrub beds are being replaced by a meadow area of grass and flowers where visitors can sit and relax and insects can thrive; a sand-dune area will replace the formal borders; an urban garden project will replace the former glasshouse area. These works are now in progress; indeed, plants are already germinating in the sand-dune area. While these works are ongoing a 'meanwhile' garden has been established, and visitors will be welcomed to a sunflower competition later in the year. Organisers of the garden are developing resources for visitors and volunteers: spaces are available for events, the research facility will be refurbished for teaching purposes, and an education centre will go into the old boiler house once gas and asbestos have been removed! These facilities are available for community groups - early school-leavers, vulnerable adults and their families, undergraduate and postgraduate students. Partnerships are being sought across the world to share the challenges faced. Harry's lessons, learnt and passed on to us today? Have the courage of your convictions, find your priorities, accept feedback and learn from it........good lessons for life. Jimmy MacGregor, a regular visitor to the Garden, gave the vote of thanks.