Last week students from Mendip Studio and Writhlington Schools hosted a visit by US scientist Tom Mirenda from the Smithsonian Institution.

Tom is director of horticulture and education at the Hawaii Tropical Botanic Garden and came to learn from the experience of students at the Writhlington Orchid Project.

After meeting students and touring the propagation laboratories in the Mendip Studio School Tom gave a fascinating lecture to students and staff on recent research into pollination biology.

Tom is very keen to share the experience of Students at Mendip Studio and Writhlington Schools and to use the work as a model for education and conservation projects internationally. Provisional plans were agreed for a tour of the United States by students and potential joint conservation and science projects between the Mendip Studio School and the Hawaii Tropical Botanic Garden.

It was a pleasure hosting Tom’s visit and I am very excited about the opportunities for students through our joint projects with Hawaii over the next few years.