

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: March 2026 Meeting - "Lithops: 4½ Billion Years in the Making" - Dr. Ivor Crook
- **Event Start and End Date**: Sat, 14 Mar, 2026 at 07:00 pm – Sat, 14 Mar, 2026 at 10:00 pm
- **Event Description**: Our March meeting is on Saturday 14, when Ivor Crook will be telling us all about "Lithops: 4½ Billion Years in the Making."

We all appreciate watching our plants grow and flower, whether at home or in the wild. In this talk, Ivor looks at how we got to that point. 

The first half explores how plants first arose, how and why they grew in complexity and how that was shaped by the world around them. We will follow the time-line from the origin of the solar system to the first Lithops. 

The second part looks at how well they are adapted to their harsh natural environment, offering clues as to how we can grow them better in cultivation.

Ivor Crook is a retired general medical practitioner and has been a member of the BCSS and the Manchester branch for over 25 years. His interest in succulent plants was ignited by finding a copy of Nel's Gibbaeum Handbook, an old family heirloom. Over the years he has written articles for the Tephrocactus Study Group, The Haworthia Society, Cactus World and Bradleya. Travel across southern Africa and cactus habitats on both sides of the equator has lead to the production of numerous talks that have been presented to BCSS branches across England and Scotland. Known as an avid lover of Opuntias, this remains one of his key interests within the hobby.

&lt;photos: lithops="" marmorata="" calcium="" oxylate="" crystals="" and="" cyanobacteria.=""&gt;

Venue: St. Thomas More Church Parish Hall
Mainway
Alkrington
Middleton
Manchester
M24 1PP

Half a mile from J20 of the M60 ring road. What3Words: ///outer.hobby.flies

Please arrive from 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start. Meetings are usually on the second Saturday of the month, but please check our events page first, just in case: https://manchester.bcss.org.uk/syllabus/

Not a BCSS member? No problem! Visitors are always welcome at our meetings, so why not come along and see what we're all about? Admission is free.

We look forward to seeing you all!&lt;/photos:&gt;
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/middleton/march-2026-meeting-lithops-4½-billion-years-in-the-making-dr-ivor-crook/200029683599837
- **Event Categories**: meetups
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 2

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: http://facebook.com/200029683599837?utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=middleton-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Middleton
- **state**: EN
- **country**: United Kingdom
- **location**: St Thomas More Church Hall, Alkrington, Middleton M24 1PP
- **lat**: 53.536837766924
- **long**: -2.1942529845045
- **full address**: St Thomas More Church Hall, Alkrington, Middleton M24 1PP, Alkrington Health Centre, Hardfield Road, Manchester, M24 1PQ, United Kingdom, Middleton

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 2
- **organizer**: Manchester Branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society (https://allevents.in/org/manchester-branch-of-the-british-cactus-and-succulent-society/13505547)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events6/banners/196d9896dfaa1fa25bade1ba7c4bc25c6cffd46b3d180f238a78b07a4b1df96c-rimg-w1200-h675-dc3e1b08-gmir?v=1772267230
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events6/banners/5a3beb2945d14a25345c90a63a965b5bc390a1420ac39268130373845f7f0377-rimg-w300-h300-dcd5d7d4-gmir?v=1773281680

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Sat, 14 Mar, 2026 at 07:00 pm
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** St Thomas More Church Hall, Alkrington, Middleton M24 1PP, Alkrington Health Centre, Hardfield Road, Manchester, M24 1PQ, United Kingdom, Middleton
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** Manchester Branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** meetups
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about March 2026 Meeting - "Lithops: 4½ Billion Years in the Making" - Dr. Ivor Crook ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

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