Plant memories: How people build lasting connections with plants

People often fail to recognize and appreciate the importance of plants, a phenomenon known as Plant Awareness Disparity (PAD), also known as plant blindness. This lack of awareness has a negative impact on botanical knowledge and skill acquisitions, consequently affecting biodiversity conservation efforts. McGinn et al. investigated the relationship between art and plant awareness through an exhibition, “In Memory of Plants,” at the Alternative Kilkenny Arts Festival 2022, using art as a tool to address PAD phenomenon. The study revealed the importance of art as a tool for reflection and emotional engagement to connect people to plants. Visitors at the exhibition were encouraged to share their personal plant-related memories, and plants were seen to link people to significant experiences and relationships. The analysis demonstrated the importance of sensory experiences in relating to plants, giving a deeper understanding of human-plant connections and buttressing art-based research as an effective tool to enhance plant awareness and stimulate collaboration among artists, botanists and science communicators. This study, therefore advocates for art as a vital instrument in addressing biodiversity loss and supporting plant conservation efforts. (Summary by Idowu Arinola Obisesan, @IdowuAobisesan) Plants People Planet 10.1002/ppp3.10555