Live Talk: Prof. John Parker

Prof. John Parker will talk about the bristlecone pine and other trees following coffee and a book sale.

Thursday 13 February 2025
This event has now passed

Title Trees today: increasing delight, increasing despair.

Abstract As well as being an expert on John Stevens Henslow, founder of the new Cambridge University Botanic Garden, John Parker has had a passion for trees throughout his professional life. Now that he is retired in Norfolk, John has become an avid gardener of 35 tree species and more than 150 woody shrubs, though these are mere striplings compared to the 5,000-year-old bristlecone pine that is the oldest living organism. Trees have had an impact not only on John, but they have also had an amazing impact on the global environment and, in this talk, John will review the role of trees and assess their future in a world that breached the 1.5°C global warming target in 2024.

Our Speaker Prof. John Parker studied botany at Oxford and, following a Readership at Queen Mary College London and a spell heading the Reading University Botany Department, was Director of CU Botanic Garden from 1996 to 2010. At Cambridge, John was also Curator of the University Herbarium and Professor of Plant Cytogenetics, with research interests in evolutionary genetics. A Fellow of Clare Hall, he established the Genetics Garden in 1998 and oversaw the planning of the Sainsbury Laboratory which was officially opened in 2011. John is a long-standing member of CGT and, indeed, a patron, so we are delighted to welcome him back.

Location The Village Hall, 56 High Street, Coton CB23 7PL. For Google map directions, please click here.

This live talk is open to members of Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust (£8) and guests (£10). Doors will open at 11:00am for coffee and a sale of books generously provided by CGT member Marguerite Sassoon; proceeds to go to CGT activities. The talk will start at approximately 11:30am. Our preferred method of booking is by BACS transfer to our new bank account in the name of Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust (sort code 30-99-50, account number 80635768) using your name as reference; please confirm payment by email to admin. Cheques, payable to Cambridgeshire Gardens Trust, may be sent to Judith Christie, Teal Cottage, Fen Drayton CB24 4SH.