Exploring the wonders of the Garden: A surprise visit in 30 minutes

The idea is simple: quick, themed half-hour visits, scheduled at convenient times, usually around lunchtime. The Botanical Sprints initiative was launched in early 2023 and consistently attracts dozens of participants at each edition.

Botanist João Farminhão calls the sprints "lightning visits" to the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra (JBUC), with themes "chosen according to what's trending that time of year", adding that the choices may include "curiosities and peculiarities about the reproductive life of plants, themed tours of plants in flower or fruit at that specific time, getting to know a particular botanical family or how we use some of the plants in our everyday lives".

JBUC tries to organise at least two sprints per month, which are announced on social media platforms and on the Garden's website. Registration is free but mandatory and each sprint is limited to 20 participants.

Find out more at www.uc.pt/jardimbotanico/

^{Translation: Diana Taborda}