Celebration of Olive Trees: Save the Olives Fundraiser

Event Information

“Peace proclaims olives of endless age” says Sonnet 107 -- the olive has long been a symbol of peace, prosperity & a palate-pleaser.

Olive trees can be found dotting the London cityscape, often in pots around restaurants & some clusters can be found in spots such as Islington & Clapton. But in the wild, specifically Apulia, Italy, gorgeous ancient olive trees are suffering from a terrible blight: the Xylella plague. These lush olive forests have been replaced by a landscape of husks, & contagion threatens to endanger olive-growing regions across the Mediterranean. The Save the Olives campaign, in which Helen Mirren (who generously provided the Foreword for Botanical Shakespeare) is very involved in an advocacy role, is on a mission to save these ancient trees. The clock is ticking.

Join us at the renowned St Pancras Clocktower for a breathtaking bird's-eye view of the City, with talks from UTF mainstay Paul Wood (author of London is a Forest) on urban Olive trees, Gerit Quealy (Botanical Shakespeare) on the poetic & historic olive & branch, and Stefano Petroni of Save the Olives on their unique technique to rescue these ancient beauties! Plus, some surprise guests & delectable treats! (and a secret glimpse of the oft-missed statue of the warrior Boudicca!)

Contributors

Gerit Quealy

Gerit Quealy, author of Botanical Shakespeare, is a writer & independent scholar based in NYC & London, & a return event organizer for the UTF.