Today we have been aboard the Kaskalot the three masted barque soon to become Beagle 3 travelling around the world to re-enact Darwin’s journey on the Beagle.
Today students were filmed talking about their hopes for the expedition which will include science engagement at every port Darwin visited and interactive communication and world wide engagement through Google.
The orchid project us a key partner to the project and we expect students and ex-students to play a big part in the adventures of Beagle 3.

Well done for a superb display team. RHS Gold.

Tonight we leave Rwanda and head back to the UK. We have had an amazing time with our students and our last week travelling. If you would like to see what our KCCEM students are up to then join them on Facebook at KCCEM orchid project. Link below.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/507456746092005/?ref=br_rs

After finishing our time at KCCEM Heather and I have had a chance to visit another of Rwandans national parks.  The volcanoes national park if most famous for the mountain gorillas, which were incredible to see and get so close to.  But of course we got distracted a few times by some of the amazing orchids the park has to offer.

This week Dina and Hettie from the Eden project visited us to collect their order for orchids for the new display in the Rainforest Biome. We are really excited to be working together to design Eden’s first major orchid feature to take the prime spot just inside the Rainforest Biome. The exhibit will feature more than eighty charismatic orchid species all grown by Writhlington Students and will include information about the plants, their habitats and our work to support education and conservation.

The team are pictured here under our amazing plant of Ansellia africana. This plant was raised from seed in the Writhlington laboratory in 2004 and sold as a seedling kit at Eden in 2006. Last year its Cornish owners asked if they could donate it back to the school as it had grown too large for their flat! Next month it will be a feature plant for our display at the RHS london Orchid show (1st and 2nd April RHS Halls, Westminster).

As well as the new orchid display we are working with Eden to explore the impact electronic innovation by Mendip students can have on the visitor experience to the biomes.