Hands-on science at Festival of Discovery
A “deadly” meat-eating plant that can devour a whole rat alive will take pride of place at a new event on Anglesey.
The natural habitat of the carnivorous Pitcher Plant is the tropical rainforests of South America or Asia. – but around 40 varieties are being grown at Bangor University’s Treborth Botanical Gardens.
Along with some of the centre’s other rare species, they will be going on show to the public at the inaugural Festival of Discovery at the Anglesey Showground
This year the Bangor Science Festival is relocating to the Anglesey event which runs between Thursday, May 30, and Saturday, June 1. Visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to discover the hidden world of science with help from Bangor University scientists and students through a host of hands-on activities and demonstrations.
Natalie Chivers, the curator of the Gardens, said: “The pitcher plants can grow up to 18 inches tall and they feed on insects and some of them feed on bigger things like birds and rodents including mice and rats.
“It has chemicals all around its lip and inside which is very slippery. It is like a trap. If you’re an unsuspecting insect or even a rodent, you’re going to drop down and you won’t be able to get out. They have really strong chemical juices at the bottom which will dissolve the creature and feed the plant.”
Organiser Davina Carey-Evans, managing director of Beaumarisbased Sbarc Event Management,said it’s going to be a three day funpacked family festival.
She said: “We have a chance to get involved in bush craft workshops, storytelling, circus skills, bubble factories, dancing, singing and so much more.
“We have three days packed with some of the best folk music Wales has to offer. We will have performances by Alaw, Maelog, Elfen, Trials of Cato, Tacla VRi, Gwilym Bowen Rhys, K-Bros and many more.”