DO TREES TALK?
and if so, do they talk to bees?

Are trees the strong, silent types or is there a lot of forest chatter going on? We've brought together a panel bridging art, science and action to explore the fascinating world of interspecies communication.

To stimulate discussion, we'll be showing In the Minds of Plants, a fascinating expose of the secret chemical communication that goes on in the air and soil. This will be followed by an audience discussion with panellists from both sides of the Atlantic.

Here's our panel for the evening:

Natalie Jeremijenko, artist and founder of the Environmental HealthxClinic at NYU, prescribes creative solutions for re-designing our shared environmental health, which have engaged fish to text, butterflies to cross roads, mussels to sing and trees to become office landlords. Her ideas facilitate interactions between humans and non-humans.

Sensory biologist, Professor Daniel Robert has investigated bioacoustics, the miniature sounds that not only insects but also plants can make to communicate with one another. With his team at the University of Bristol, he has shown how bumblebees can detect the electric field around a flower and learn from it to decide which flowers to visit and feed on, a key factor in successful pollination.

Rhodri Karim, software ecologist, sonic agitator and recent Permaculture convert based at The Cube, will be providing a undisciplined multidisciplinary perspective on forest affairs and urban agriculture. He has worked on projects as diverse as tamper-proof voting systems, self-assembling electronic music and growing tomatoes out of a bucket full of mist.

Social entrepreneur Tim Barsby founder of nonprofit BeeBristol, which aims to improve the environment for pollinators and people. BeeBristol works in partnership with River of Flowers to produce Honeycomb Meadows and Honeycomb Bee Hotels designed to support bees and other pollinators in urban landscapes.

River of Flowers designs safe routes through cities for pollinators by creating floral forage trails or ‘rivers’ of wildflowers and trees. BeeBristol improves the environment for pollinators and people through education, conservation, art installations and events. Wild Crab Apple trees by Honeycomb Meadow will be feeding off our conversation in the Cube auditorium where special honey and botanical cocktails will be available on the night.