Winter Talk: Queer Botany of the Lower Lea Valley, with Sixto-Juan Zavala
Sixto-Juan Zavala is a designer, illustrator, and story-teller. They are an amateur botanist with a background in visual communication. Zavala founded Queer Botany in 2020. They have designed maps, installed interpretive displays, hosted botanical drawing sessions, and guided walks sharing stories about plants from a queer perspective. Through Queer Botany, Zavala has worked with Chelsea Physic Garden, RBG Kew, The V&A, and other organisations.
Queer Botany of the Lower Lea Valley
How can botany be queered and how can queerness be botanical? Join Sixto-Juan Zavala (he/they), founder of Queer Botany, on a talk exploring connections between queerness and nature. They will share stories about plants from folklore, science, and history. There will be a focus on plants growing in the lower Lea Valley, including Walthamstow Wetlands and Walthamstow Marshes. Queer Botany emerges from the theoretical lens of queer ecology, which brings together queer theory and eco-criticism. The project aims to share marginalised perspectives and support more diverse representations in the environmental movement and outdoors.
Links:
https://www.queerbotany.com
https://sjzavala.com
Instagram:
@queerbotany
@sjzavala
Bluesky:
@queerbotany.bsky.social
@sjzavala.bsky.social
Booking: If you experience any difficulties booking online, please phone the main BSBI phone number between 9:00 am and 5:30 pm for assistance: +44 (0) 7404 231178.
Accessibility: If you have any questions about accessibility or specific needs that would help you take part comfortably, please feel free to contact us on bookings@bsbi.org or +44 (0) 7404 231178.
The BSBI has a culture of mutual respect, and takes seriously the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in our events. We want everyone at our events to enjoy themselves, and we expect everyone to act in a respectful manner towards others at all times. We will not tolerate harassment, discrimination or inappropriate behaviour of any kind, and will treat any reported incidents seriously.