“Europe has Arid Deserts. Who Knew?!” was the title of a talk delivered by the book’s author on 8 March 2026. Following a series of talks for eco-specialists, this one was scripted for a general audience. By eight o’clock on a Sunday evening, the 14th-century Brewhouse was nearly full. Chris clearly enjoyed giving a lively, good-humoured talk about the book’s theme. A series of striking images highlighted the diversity of Europe’s desert landscapes, and a short video – featuring a horse rider galloping across a dry, sandy tract in the Netherlands – showed how these areas are used for recreation. Fired by enthusiasm, Chris ran over time, but the audience stayed with him. He kept people engaged, and enjoyed the opportunity to respond to questions and discussion points following the talk.
