The theme is celebrating biodiversity in the crops that have been associated with the human species over thousands of years and grown around the world.

We humans are now as a species, finally waking up to the changes occurring in the Earth’s climate; caused by an ever increasing population explosion and the dramatic warming of our planet.

To feed our increasing population, we now have crop cultivation on a massive scale, often with fewer and fewer types of plants. However, due to climatic conditions changing, more and more crops are being ruined by floods, droughts or pests and diseases.

This is why the theme of this year’s exhibition is heritage crops; grown here, and in each of the participating countries for longer than 50 years.

Focusing on foraged foods, heritage vegetables and fruits that are less grown and often tastier. We need crop diversity, and we have to look to our country’s variety of heritage and heirloom crops; not only for food but also for medicinal usage.

We are delighted to be able to show this exhibition in Leith. Scotland’s’ contribution to this worldwide exhibition can be seen from 15-20th May, at Customs House Gallery, Commercial Street, Leith from 10-4pm - entry is free, before going to the V & A Dundee for the month of July.

In Dundee it will be part of an exhibition entitled Garden Futures: Designing in Nature. Works from the other participating countries will be shown as a digital slide show via a video monitor. So you can see the variety of fruit, vegetable and herbs that are part of each countries cultivation.

Shown alongside this; The annual exhibition of the Scottish Society of Botanical Artists will have works on display. The Society has been in existence for 10 years promoting botanical painting throughout Scotland. Holding classes, exhibitions and giving demonstrations.

In Scotland we have a long history of botanical painting. Used initially to illustrate mainly medicinal plants and to assist the searcher after flowers and herbs. However in the 17th century this useful plant guide gave way to more artistic illustrations of the rare flowers grown in the gardens of wealthy amateurs.

The botanical artist has to render the plant scientifically accurate while at the same time trying to capture its character and beauty. A botanical illustration is an idealised yet scientifically accurate representation of an individual plant that includes all of the distinguishing features in a way that is not always possible to capture in a photograph.

This is a chance to see beautifully illustrated and painted pictures; while giving food for thought as well as ideas on how we might all think of diversifying what we grow, that is if we are fortunate enough to have an allotment or garden. But if not, just come and enjoy. ■

Info: botanicascotia.uk

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