Dr Dan Evans, Senior Lecturer in Soil Formation at Cranfield University, met His Majesty the King at the RHS Sandringham Flower Show, and had the chance to speak about the importance of soil for horticulture.
As an invited speaker at the show, Dr Evans is appearing on the main stage to discuss the hidden world beneath our feet and the essential roles soils play in supporting plants, gardens and the wider environment.
Speaking about meeting the King, Dr Evans said: “It was a great honour to meet The King. I suggested that soil is the foundation of horticulture and he agreed, while noting that trying to improve soil quality is still a challenge.”
One of the main features of Cranfield’s presence at the show have been Dr Evans’s Talking Benches , which are hosted by the British Society of Soil Sciences in the show’s Soil Fest area. The interactive benches offer a chance for visitors to sit, listen and learn more about the organisms and processes found beneath the soil’s surface, including ecoacoustic recording of earthworms provided by Soil Acoustics.
“Soil is one of the foundations of life on our planet, and as the effects of climate change are being felt in real-time around the world, it’s never been more important to engage with people and help them to understand that protecting nature isn’t just a nice thing to do, it’s absolutely fundamental to life.
“Whether people are gardeners, farmers, walkers or simply enjoy spending time outdoors, everyone has a connection with the soil. We hope the talking benches encourage visitors to pause and think differently about the ground beneath them.”
The RHS Sandringham flower show is currently taking place at Sandringham Estate in Kings Lynn, Norfolk until Sunday July 26. Dr Evans will be speaking on Saturday 25 on the main stage, as part of a panel discussion about soil.
