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Thurso presentation to focus on Victorian botanist Robert Dick


By SPP Reporter

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Robert Dick (1811-1866)
Robert Dick (1811-1866)

Thurso’s great Victorian botanist, Robert Dick, will be the focus of an event on Satirday afternoon at Caithness Horizons museum and art gallery.

David Braidwood, a PhD researcher, will give a presentation at 2pm to kick off Caithness Horizons’ summer season.

Mr Braidwood’s talk – Plant hunters of the past and their legacies for our future – will explore plant collectors and their specimens and includes insights to Robert Dick and his herbarium which is housed within the museum collection.

Mr Braidwood, from the Environmental Research Institute in Thurso, will present to the group at 2pm before leading to the museum where he will talk to guests in detail about the Robert Dick collection before plant enthusiasts are welcome to a cup of tea and homemade shortbread.

Mr Braidwood said: “As we try to untangle the evolution of life and look to the future at how climate change may impact on species’ future distributions, specimens such as those held at Caithness Horizons and other herbaria can help us learn how species adapt and how we will need to adapt to their changing needs.”

Marketing officer Marion O’Brien said: “It’s impossible not to be intrigued by the specimens when you hear David talk. The presentation offers a brilliant chance to learn new things about our community’s environment and the treasures it holds.”

This talk is part of the museum’s Grow Wild Celebrations for 2018. Caithness Horizons has been granted funding from Grow Wild to create an outdoor Robert Dick herbarium themed museum and series of workshops.

The talk is £5 or £2 for Caithness Horizons members.


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