A photographic celebration of forests, woodlands and their wildlife – from Cuba to Cambridge - will go on display at the University Museum of Zoology on Saturday 23 June.

The special exhibition by five photographers from the University of Cambridge will display images from across the world, highlighting the beauty and significance of forests of all kinds, from English woodland to tropical rainforests.

Displays will include evocative images by researchers at the Department of Zoology – Jake Snaddon, Ria Cooke, Thomas Endlein, Tom Fayle and Jamie Gundry.

Their research spans topics from the study of insects in the rainforests of Borneo and insect flight to looking at how vertebrates such as lamprey recover from spinal injuries.

The work on insect diversity in Borneo has shown amazing numbers of species living in the tree canopy, including species never found before.

Curator of Insects, Dr William Foster, said: “We want to fire people's interest and concern about forest conservation, ecology and biodiversity using these fantastic images as a starting point. Not just exotic rainforests but also our own local woodlands. This is reflected in the photographs on display and the support for this event from organisations within the local area such as The Wildlife Trust.”

Children inspired by the photographs and animals on display can enter the museum's competition to draw their ideal rainforest, featuring all the forest animals they would most like to save from extinction.

Other events include a programme of free public talks of forest and forest life, including:

  • 6.00pm Tuesday 26 June - 'Learning about tropical forests: a hands on approach' by Dr Rosie Trevelyan, Tropical Biology Association
  • 6.00pm Thursday 5 July -'Tropical epiphytes: In pursuit of forest hitch-hiker' by Prof. Howard Griffiths, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge
  • 6.00pm Wednesday 11 July - 'Lost worlds of the canopy: insect biodiversity in tropical rainforest' by Dr William Foster, University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge
  • 6.00pm Thursday 19 July - 'Woodland Management and Woodland Wildlife' by Brian Eversham, Conservation Director, The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough

There will also be a family ‘Forest Day' on Saturday 14 July and a display on local woodlands by the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northampton and Peterborough throughout the exhibition.

Forest runs until 11th August 2007 at the Museum of Zoology in Downing Street, Cambridge. During the exhibition the museum is open Monday to Friday 10.00 to 4.45 and Saturday 10.00 to 1.00. Admission to the museum, exhibition and all events is free.

See the Museum of Zoology website for more details

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