CHEMICAL WARFARE (and cooperation) IN THE GARDEN

Plants can’t talk but they do communicate with the world around them for their survival. But they also need to defend themselves against predators who might look at them as potential lunch. This fascinating presentation by Gwenda Kyd, a chemist by training, who has specialised in herbal medicine, explores how plants communicate, whether it is plant-plant, plant-insect or plant-human interactions. We’ll learn how plants help each other using chemical signals but also chemically protect the area they’re growing in from encroaching neighbours. Also how they use chemical compounds to attract the right sort of insects for pollination. Gwenda is the co-deviser of the ‘Chemicals from Plants Trail’ at Cambridge Botanic Gardens and author of several books including Molecules, Medicines and Mischief and importantly an entertaining speaker.