Lunchtime Talk: Facing Up to Climate Change

At the University of Birmingham, researchers from the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFor) are working hard to find the answers to how the increase of carbon dioxide will affect individual plants through to entire forests.

Climate change is increasing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere. CO₂ is the gas that plants use to make their food through photosynthesis. At first glance, it might seem that giving plants more CO₂ would simply help them grow better. But plant growth is controlled by many factors, not just CO₂—things like water, nutrients, and temperature all play a part. Because of this, scientists still don’t fully understand how plants—and especially whole forests—will respond as CO₂ levels continue to rise.

The BiFoR FACE experiment (Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment), run by the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, is helping us find answers. It is one of the world’s largest experiments studying how mature trees react to the higher CO₂ levels we expect in the future.

This talk will look at BIFoR’s world-leading experiment, explain how it works, and explore what we’re discovering about the complicated links between CO₂, water use, and nutrient supply in forests. These insights will help us predict how forests might change in the coming decades—and how we can manage and protect them more effectively.

Recommended for ages 18+. The talk will take place in the Winterbourne Centre for Horticulture.

All courses, workshops and events at Winterbourne House & Garden are non-refundable unless cancelled by Winterbourne. All tickets are subject to a booking fee of up to £2.50.