Flora Celtica Scotland 2000 - The Roadshow

Flora Celtica visited primary schools in the Hebrides and West coast in May 2000, sharing wisdom about plants and learning new things along the way.  Using everyday and unusual objects, pictures and video, combined with performance and interactive games, the Flora Celtica roadshow explored the role of native plants in our lives, and investigated how they have been used in the past and how they can be used today. Since then the show has been performed in the Northern Isles (Orkney and Shetland), Glasgow and Edinburgh, as well as at Younger Botanic Garden (Benmore) and Logan Botanic Garden outside Stranraer. In 2003 it will be visiting Ireland.

About Flora Celtica

Flora Celtica’s objective is to document, present and promote the knowledge and sustainable use of native plants in the Celtic countries and regions of Europe. Flora Celtica - Scotland 2000 is the first major development under this initiative.  It involves a series of linked activities whereby the people of Scotland document their own culture. The project consists of a poster, schools roadshow, database, exhibition and a book.

This page concerns the roadshow which  toured over 50 primary schools in the Highlands and Islands in May 2000.  The roadshow is educational (see below) and is also part of our information gathering project.  Information and ideas from the children (and their families) will be incorporated into the project's book, and local newspapers have offered to print articles based on the roadshow's results. 

Educational content

The roadshow was presented by Julie Jones and Naomi Knight from RBGE’s Education Department. Both Julie and Naomi have worked on RBGE’s successful Rainforest Roadshow which has travelled around schools in Lothian Region introducing children to the rainforest.

Two main areas of the Environmental Studies 5-14 Curriculum are covered by the roadhsow:

  • Understanding people and place: how people have adapted to their local environment by using the plants they find and, conversely, how they have changed their environment by cultivating or harvesting those plants;
  • Understanding people and the past: the way in which locally occuring plants have affected the historical development of society and culture in Scotland.
Further details on the educational content of the Roadshow will be sent out on request.

Beyond 2000

The Flora Celtica roadshow has become part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's regular public education activities, and will continue to be made available to primary schools.

Practical details

Classroom space should be adequate if a small ‘stage’ area can be made.  Ideally it should be blacked out.
The show last approximately an hour and a half.
There is a nominal fee of approximately £2 per child.

Finding out more about the Flora Celtica Roadshow

Please contact Suzanne Nairn at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's Education Department.