Planting for the Future: A Word With The Experts

17 February /  6 – 8 pm / Open Eye Gallery / book your free ticket

Spaces are limited. If you’re unable to attend, please return your ticket at Eventbrite

Join us to discuss how climate change is shaping what we plant now and how we’ll plant in the future. What steps should we be taking to mitigate climate change and which things can help make positive change?

We’ll hear our expert panellists from partner organisations:

•     Phillip Esseen, Curator of Botany & Horticulture, Head of Plants at Chester Zoo
•     Joshua Corbet, Arborist, Arboriculture Team Leader at Royal Horticultural Society, Bridgewater.

The event is chaired by Lindsay Taylor, Director, University of Salford Art Collection and Chair of OFFSHOOT Project.

Head of Plants at Chester Zoo, Phil Esseen both leads the charge in the conservation of plants under threat across the globe, while also shaping the natural landscaping around the zoo site and in the animal habitats, immersing visitors in the beauty of nature. He’ll reflect on how this passion for plants supports visitors to connect with nature and reflect on their own impact on the planet, and how global threats like climate change might impact what we plant both now and in the future. Working with some of the world’s rarest plants as well as animals, the Zoo promotes conservation at home and across the globe, preserving biodiversity for future generations.

Joshua Corbett is Team Leader for Arboriculture at RHS Garden Bridgewater. He leads the care and development of the garden’s trees, with a focus on planting for the long term and creating healthy, resilient tree populations for the future. His work centres on building diverse tree collections that can adapt to climate change, helping to reduce risks from pests and diseases. This includes working with both native trees and species from around the world, exploring which taxa will not only cope with changing conditions but truly thrive – shaping landscapes that are resilient, biodiverse and fit for the climate of tomorrow.

And then we’d welcome questions and discussion from the audience.

At this event you will have the opportunity to participate in Yan Wang Preston’s ‘Memory Keepers’ – a project featured in this year’s LOOK Climate Lab. Participants can become Memory Keepers, by sharing with us a short story, poem or written piece based on one of 300 years in the lifespan of the oldest tree at RHS Garden Bridgewater. Yan will use the submissions (around 10 sentences or less) to create an artwork for presentation at Salford Museum and Art Gallery in October, before entering the University’s Art Collection. If you can’t make it to the event but would still like to get involved, email k.marchant@salford.ac.uk. For further information on the project, visit the OFFSHOOT website.

This event is part of LOOK Climate Lab 2026, a biennial programme by Open Eye Gallery, as well as part of OFFSHOOT, a collaboration between University of Salford Art Collection, RHS Garden Bridgewater and Open Eye Gallery and is generously supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. 

We encourage you to use public transport or carpooling when getting to the events.

 

Open Eye Gallery is a short walk from the Liverpool ONE shopping centre and the Albert Dock.

 

By train. We are 20 minutes walk from Lime Street station. James Street station, served by Wirral Line trains, is a two minute walk. Moorfields station, served by the Northern and Wirral Lines, is a five minute walk. Visit Merseytravel for details of local train services.

 

By bus. The nearest bus and coach station is at Liverpool ONE, served by National Express coaches. Merseytravel has details of  local bus services.

 

By ferry. The gallery is two minutes walk from the Pier Head Ferry Terminal, from which Mersey Ferries run regular services to the Wirral.

 

By bicycle. There are bicycle bays close to the gallery.

 

If you wish to offset the carbon footprint of your travel, you can do it with Carbon Neutral Britain, Carbon Footprint, Forest Carbon, My Carbon Plan or any other project that you trust.