Free but booking is required. Please email jenny@deveron-projects.com / phone 01466 794494 to reserve a space. 

Come along on a journey through microbial time with our current artist in residence Margherita Soldati, evolutionary ecologist, Justin Stewart and local forager, Rosie Leagas. Setting off from the Brander Garden, we will take a gentle walk around Huntly to map the microbial activity in soils around town and over time, through the creation of DIY ‘soil clocks’. Justin, Margherita and Rosie will introduce and describe the invisible relationships between the soil and other ecosystems, with a focus on Justin’s area of expertise - mycorrhizal fungi. This will invite conversation, discussion and group exploration of how our local soils have changed over time. We will end at the Brander Garden, Huntly, with a foraged tea from Rosie and further discussion.  
About the project
This event is part of Good Gut! a project by Margherita Soldati exploring the microbial connections between our guts and the soil under our feet. Find out more here.

About Justin and SPUN
Justin Stewart is a biologist mapping plant-microbe symbiosis across scales. Their work focuses on understanding how the evolution of cooperation between plants and microbes imprints on whole ecosystems. For this Justin combines DNA sequencing and satellites to make machine learning models of where the Earth’s hotspots of microbial biodiversity are found. Working on their PhD and as a scientist at the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) they also collect soils around the Earth to reduce uncertainty in mapping the Earth’s soils.  Accessibility
~ This walk takes place outdoors and will cover uneven terrain and narrow paths. Please wear appropriate footwear and come dressed for the weather.~ We have some camp stools available if you require a seat for when we stop to talk and look around – please let us know if you would like one when you book.~ Children are welcome with an adult.~ Coming on your own and don’t know anyone else yet? Don’t worry, this is a great way to meet people! We’re a friendly bunch and you will always get a warm welcome. Get in touch if you would like to be connected with a ‘buddy’ beforehand. Route