Bristol University has organised a number of events for people of all ages as part of its involvement in the UK’s biggest celebration of the natural world, Bristol’s first Festival of Nature.

            The first event, taking place next week, Wednesday 13 October, Age old research – meet the Bristol dinosaur, is a tour in the Department of Earth Sciences that will bring members of the public up to date with ongoing research into the fascinating world of fossils.

            People will have the opportunity to learn more about the Bristol Dinosaur Project’s aim of reconstructing Thecodontosaurus antiquus, one of the world’s oldest dinosaurs, in Reconstruction of the Bristol dinosaur on Thursday 14 October.

            A day school on Saturday 16 October, It’s amazing what you can find by shaking trees!, will give people the chance to identify the various invertebrates, and vertebrates, that live in trees.  Tickets are priced at £18 and prior enrolment is essential.

            Physicist and penguin addict, Dr Peter Barham, on Tuesday 19 October, will discuss these fascinating birds and research that is helping to conserve them in Getting to the places other people don’t reach – a physicist among penguins.

            On Tuesday 26 October, Getting to the places other people don’t reach – volcanoes, Drs Claire Horwell and Ed Llewellin from the Department of Earth Sciences will talk about their research into volcanoes and volcanology.

            The Tour of Churchill Arboretum on Thursday 28 October is already fully booked but an extra date has been added on Friday 29 October.  The tour will enable people to look at over 600 trees of all shapes and sizes and from all over the world. Besides a 500-year old oak, some of the trees are pre-1890 but the majority were planted in the 1960s after Churchill Hall was built.    

            A talk on Thursday 28 October, Ten practical ways to help save the environment, will challenge some commonly held myths about being ‘green’ and explain what can be done in the home and at work to help the environment.

             A day school, Two for one in the wood,on Saturday 30 October, will give people the opportunity to learn how to identify bird song and calls and woodland flowers in and around the Botanic Garden and Leigh Woods. Tickets are priced at £18 and prior enrolment is essential.

            Finally, on Sunday 31 October, in Magic and mayhem, there is a guided walk with a twist around Churchill Arboretum. Malcolm Kinch will be sharing his passion for trees but the storytelling partnership, Rûach, will entertain with stories and songs to celebrate nature and mark the events of Hallowe’en and All Souls Day.

Kim Fitzgerald, the University’s Outreach Development Officer, said: ‘We are delighted to be taking part in Bristol’s first Festival of Nature and to be hosting so many events.  The events are open to all and everyone is welcome to attend.’

Bristol Festival of Nature 9-31 October 2004
The UK’s biggest celebration of the natural world

Bristol’s first Festival of Nature feature some 300 engaging events taking place in a host of different venues around the city.  The three-week programme is packed with activities for everyone with events ranging from high profile talks from world experts such as ape authority Dr Jane Goodall to fungal forays in local woodlands.  The Festival aims to engage 40,000 people in the wonder of our natural world as well as recognise Bristol’s international reputation for natural history communication.  The Festival will be complemented by two events for wildlife and conservation professionals – Communicate and Wildscreen 2004 – which will take place in the city at the same time.

Bristol Festival of Nature is organised by a consortium of seven Bristol-based organisations: At-Bristol, BBC Natural History Unit, Bristol Zoo Gardens, University of Bristol, University of the West of England, Wildscreen and WWF-UK.

A full list of the events together with venue details and times are below.  The events are open to the public.  There is a charge for some events and unless otherwise stated no pre-booking is necessary.

Wednesday 13 October from 2 to 3.30 pm, tour in the Department of Earth Science, Age old research – meet the Bristol dinosaur, Wills Memorial Building, Queen’s Road. Booking essential, contact Joan Lewis, Public Programmes Office, tel 928 7157.

Thursday 14 October from 1 to 2 pm, lunchtime talk, Reconstruction of the Bristol dinosaur, Waddelow Hall, Broadmead Baptist Church, Union Street, Bristol (entrance behind Tesco Metro).

Saturday 16 October from 10 am to 4 pm, day course, It’s amazing what you can find by shaking trees!, Botanic Garden, North Road, Leigh Woods. Tickets are priced at £18. Prior enrolment is essential, to book contact Jo Emslie, Public Programmes Office, tel 0117 928 7165.

Tuesday 19 October at 7 pm, evening talk, Getting to the places other people don’t reach – a physicist among penguins, Wills Memorial Building, Queen’s Road. Booking essential, contact Ann Kimber, Public Programmes Office, tel 331 4293.

Tuesday 26 October at 7 pm, evening talk, Getting to the places other people don’t reach – volcanoes, Wills Memorial Building, Queen’s Road. Booking essential, contact Ann Kimber, Public Programmes Office, tel 331 4293.

Thursday 28 October [fully booked] and Friday 29 October from 12.30 to 2 pm, Tour of Churchill Arboretum, Churchill Arboretum, Stoke Park Road, Stoke Bishop. Booking essential, contact Joan Lewis, Public Programmes Office, tel 928 7157.

Thursday 28 October from 1 to 2 pm, lunchtime talk, Ten practical ways to help save the environment, Waddelow Hall, Broadmead Baptist Church, Union Street, Bristol (entrance behind Tesco Metro).

Saturday 30 October from 10 am to 4 pm, day course, Two for one in the wood, Botanic Garden, North Road, Leigh Woods. Tickets are priced at £18. Prior enrolment is essential, to book contact Jo Emslie, Public Programmes Office, tel 0117 928 7165.