This is a talk in two halves. It first explores the extraordinary 450 million-year evolution of plants and the inventive ways they solved the many problems arising from the move on to dry land – gravity, nutrition, desiccation and the particularly intractable and surprising issue of reproduction.

The focus then shifts to how humans have adapted this bountiful heritage. We explore why, where and how agriculture was invented, and why this step has been described as “the worst mistake in history “.

The talk should provide a fascinating new perspective on the plants that grow in your garden