A Botanical Odyssey: Matt Biggs (1905)
A Botanical Odyssey: the (mis)adventures of the plant hunter George Forrest
In this episode of Travels Through Time writer, gardener and panellist on Gardeners' Question Time Matt Biggs travels back to 1905 to see the plant hunter George Forrest as he begins an ill-omened expedition into the mountains of Yunnan.
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For centuries plant hunters like Forrest had been tempted out into the margins of the landscape in search of prize new specimens. They often travelled at significant personal risk through hostile environments and contested political spaces. George Forrest's 1905 expedition was one of the most fraught of them all. In this episode we watch Forrest in three scenes as the drama of his story unfolds.
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Show Notes:
Scene One: 4 July, 1905, Satu, Yunnan. George Forrest begins his plant hunting expedition.
Scene Two: 19 July, 1905. Forrest’s expedition is pursued by Buddist lamas through the mountains.
Scene Three: 29 July, 1905. After having been presumed dead for 10 days, Forrest appears out of the wilderness, disguised as a Tibetan monk
Memento: George Forrest’s camera
People/Social:
Guest: Matt Biggs (@plantmadman)
Presenter: Peter Moore (@petermoore)
Producer: Maria Nolan
Titles: Deft Ear
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