LLP Project Report April 2018 - Sept 2018

Quarterly report (Apr 2018 - Sept. 2018). Project Ref: HG– 15-03574

Welcome to the Spring-Summer 2018 edition of our Love Lincs Plants (LLP) project update report. Learn more about what has been achieved so far, upcoming events and opportunities to get involved in this exciting Heritage Lottery Fund Project. Thank you National Lottery players!

Project staff from LWT and the NHM presented the project at the European Researchers’ Night, an annual public event hosted by the Museum attracting approximately 5000 visitors, celebrating European scientific research. This year’s theme, ‘Planet 2.0’ highlighted how human activity has fundamentally changed the Earth and how scientists can use resources such as herbarium specimens to help understand and address the human impacts of climate change and habitat destruction. (see page 2). On herbaria: “As part of my school biology course at home in Germany we have been asked to create our own mini herbarium from our garden or local park. I’ve loved using creative and scientific skills together and it’s great to see it being done on a professional scientific level here in England.” Mia, Cologne On macro photography: “If you want to engage young people in botany, this is the way to do it!” Matthew, undergraduate student in London

Throughout the exceptionally dry summer of 2018 we have been working through the heat to collect specimens for the new Lincolnshire Herbarium to be archived at the Sir Joseph Banks Centre in Horncastle and the Natural History Museum in London. Over 30 volunteers from several groups including the Lincolnshire Naturalists’ Union, The South Lincs Flora Group (top left), Groundwork Youth and Liquorice Park residents in Lincoln have helped to collect 200 specimens from across the county. The first batch of dry specimens have been mounted following expert training from NHM project officer, Kath Castillo in September (top right). This was followed by a trip to The Sir Joseph Banks Centre in Horncastle to view the new Herbarium cabinets, mounting stations, and processing equipment (bottom right) where our enthusiastic volunteers will create a fantastic record of our Lincolnshire flora for the future. “Loved the plant mounting session. Inspirational and infectious. A big wow! A big thank you! Debbie Lincoln

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