Tom Hart Dyke, the botanist and plant hunter, who has survived capture by the FARC guerillas, is coming to Galway to talk about his work and adventures.
Mr Hart Dyke will give a free public lecture in NUI Galway in the Arts Millennium Theatre on Thursday February 16 at 7pm. The meeting is organised by the NUIG Botany Society.
Mr Hart Dyke first shot to international fame in 2000 when he was kidnapped by FARC guerillas in the Panamanian jungle while hunting for rare orchids. After narrowly escaping, he returned home to Lullingstone Castle in Kent where he started the World Garden of Plants, to celebrate the flowers brought home by the great plant hunters.
Tom comes to Ireland for the first time, following in the footsteps of the plant hunters who delighted in the botanically rich areas of the Burren and Connemara. He will give a free talk about his adventures orchid hunting around the world, and collecting puyas in South America. He is also an expert in eucalyptus, holding the British national collection.
All are welcome to the talk.
