Why is organic gardening better for people and the planet?

Bob Flowerdew Trevor Taylor

Press release issued: 12 September 2012

One of Britain’s leading organic gardeners and a regular panel member of BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time, Bob Flowerdew, will be speaking about organic gardening at the University of Bristol tomorrow [Thursday 13 September].

Bob Flowerdew is a popular gardening figure and author of several books and magazine columns about organic fruit and vegetable growing.

Following a tour of Royal Fort Gardens, Bob will talk about what is organic gardening, why organic food is full of favour and what other benefits people can get from organic gardening.

Nick Wray, Curator of the University of Bristol’s Botanic Garden, said: “Bob Flowerdew has been in the public eye championing organic gardening for nearly two decades. Bob is a charismatic speaker and this lecture on organic gardening will be thought provoking for converts and sceptics alike. I am delighted that people will have an opportunity to hear and meet Bob in this his second visit to University.”

Bob is a life member of the Soil Association, Ambassador for Garden Organic, President of Norfolk Organic Group, Champion for Millennium Greens, and also of The Woodland Trust, a Patron of NWAI Rethink Rubbish campaign, Send a Cow and Dig It.

Bob joined the panel of BBC Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time 15 years ago as an expert on fruits, vegetables, organic methods and scented plants.

Tickets priced at friends and RHS members £7, non-members £12 are available in advance from John Leach, tel (01275) 854992 or email johnleach10@tiscali.co.uk. Any remaining tickets will be available on the door on the night.

Further information is available from the Botanic Garden, tel 0117 331 4906 or email botanic-gardens@bristol.ac.uk

The Royal Fort Gardens tour by Alan Stealey, External Estates Manager at the University of Bristol, is followed by a lecture by Bob Flowerdew on organic gardening. The lecture organised by the Friends of the University of Bristol Botanic Garden and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) will take place on Thursday 13 September at 6 pm.

Please note due to extensive building works to the Physics building, members of the public attending the event should meet outside the entrance to Royal Fort House, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1UJ.

The lecture by Bob Flowerdew will take place in the Tyndall Lecture Theatre, School of Physics, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL. Entry to the lecture theatre will be via the door at the rear of the Physics building opposite Royal Fort House, not via the front entrance.

Further information

About the Botanic Garden

The garden is open in September from Monday to Sunday and in October from Monday to Friday and Sundays from 10 am to 4.30 pm. Admission is £3.50 adults; free to University staff and retired staff, Friends of the Botanic Garden, students and children under 16. Disabled access and toilet facilities available.

The garden also offers private day, evening and weekend guided tours for groups and gardening or any other leisure clubs. Please contact the garden for further information. There is a charge for the guide.

Directions to The Holmes

From the city centre go to the top of Whiteladies Road, at the junction and traffic lights go straight ahead across Durdham Down towards Stoke Bishop. At the traffic lights go straight ahead and take the first turning on the right into Stoke Park Road, The Holmes is 150 m on the right. Members of the public wishing to support the work of the Botanic Garden should join the Friends of the Garden. For more information go to www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/BotanicGardens/friends/who.htm or write to Susan Redfern, The Membership Secretary, 24 Dublin Crescent, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4NA.