Join us for this new session in our Summer Series offering talks, walks and workshop on resilience in nature, growing and ecology. Resilience refers to the ability of environments and communities to react to change in a way that enables them to continue to thrive. How we create flourishing and resilient environments and communities is a pertinent question for our times. This series of walks, talks and workshops encourages us to consider this question, by looking at nature and food growing in new and unique ways.

Did you know that scientists often struggle to find male woodlice, that male trees can turn female, or that many of London’s birds partner up into same-sex couples?

‘Queer Ecology’ aims to challenge what we think of as being ‘natural’ or ‘unnatural’ and celebrates diversity in all life. Join ecologist Connor Butler on a guided nature walk through Barnes Common to explore the diverse and unusual lifecycles found in the 'unnatural' plants and animals right outside your doorstep. You’ll learn how to use a hand lens to identify common species of plants and invertebrates and gain a new fascination with the natural world.

This gentle tour around the Common invites all curious minds (aged 16+) interested in meeting others, learning identification skills, and seeing nature from a new perspective. 

The meeting point for this walk is at the polytunnel at Vine Road Rec.

About Connor Butler

Connor the Ecologist is a London-based entomologist and educator on a mission to make people notice and appreciate the smaller details in nature. His current work focuses on Queer Ecology, challenging traditional ideas about what is considered “natural” or “unnatural”. He has had over 1,000 people join his Queer Ecology tours to date, celebrating nature in all its diversity. Connor is the former Head of Learning at Chelsea Physic Garden, and is currently overseeing the Garden’s first biodiversity audit.

Instagram: @connor_the_ecologist

Website: connorbutler.co.uk

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