Finding Your Right Mind — with Vanessa Potter

Lil Stevens: Casting light on fossils, ferns and the prehistoric legacy of Dino Island.

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Episode notes

Welcome to another ParkBathe conversation where we dig down (literally) into nature and conservation. This episode features Dinosaur island and a fascinating area of research, namely,  paleo planting. I talk to Dr Lil Stevens from the National History Museum about the ancient-looking ferns found on "Dino island" inside Crystal Palace park. Dino Island got its name because it is found in the middle of the lake and is surrounded by famous (and super cool) dinosaur monuments. It's pretty hard to visit Crystal Palace and not be steered in the direction of these famous concrete beasts.

Lil is the Collections Task Force Manager at the National History museum and is a paleo botanist who volunteers with the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. That means Lil has lots to say about fossils, plants and "palaeoenvironments".  She starts by telling me the story of a rare fossil tree she found near her home.

I loved chatting with Lil, she manages to bring prehistoric environments to life with passion and vigour. If you'd like to visit the park and see the dinosaurs (and ferns) up close check out the next open day talk hosted by https://cpdinosaurs.org
and support their important conservation work.

If you enjoyed this episode why not leave us a review and check out the other interviews in the ParkBathe series.

Presented by Vanessa Potter, Edited by Melissa Green.

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