21/12/2015 - Permalink

Orchid expert makes a return visit to Severn Valley Country Park

Related topics: Leisure, culture and heritage

Shropshire Council rangers at Severn Valley Country Park are happy to welcome back orchid expert Phil Seaton on the evening of Wednesday 13 January 2016.

Phil will be speaking about his passion for orchids across the world, focusing mainly on Latin America. Worldwide, there are over 25,000 species of orchids, making them one of the largest plant families. Many species are threatened with extinction in their natural habitat due to climate change, habitat degradation, and overcollection for ornamental proposes or use in traditional medicine.

Over the past 10 years Phil has been managing an orchid seed banking project for the Millennium Seed Bank at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The project has taken him to a number of countries throughout Latin America (Cuba, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Ecuador and, most recently, Colombia) both promoting collection and storage of orchid seed as a conservation tool, and searching for orchids in their natural habitats from high in the Andes to the Caribbean coasts.

Phil took early retirement from lecturing in biology to work in orchid conservation, and he regularly uses the labs at King Charles 1st School in Kidderminster, where he works with the students studying and growing both local and tropical orchids. He is also the author of a number of informative books, including “Growing Orchids from Seed” (co-authored with Margaret Ramsay).

Susie Comaish, visitor centre manager, said:-

“Last year’s talk looked at the conservation of British orchids, but Phil’s knowledge of orchids is global. It will be fascinating to hear more about these special plants from around the world.”

The talk “A Passion for Orchids: Orchid Travels in Latin America” will be held in the visitor centre on Wednesday 13 January 2016, from 7.30pm-9pm. Tickets are £4 adults, £2 children, £3 members of Shropshire Wildlife Trust. Tickets include a hot drink and biscuits. Places are limited so please call 01746 781192 on a working day to book.