Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens
Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Kew Gardens
Location	London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England
Director	Richard Deverell
Owner	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Kew Gardens is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major international center for botany, mycology, and conservation biology, located in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England, near the River Thames. It is managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, an executive agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and is closely associated with the Institute of Biology, Royal Horticultural Society, and London Zoo. The gardens are also a popular destination for visitors from around the world, including Charles Darwin, Joseph Banks, and David Attenborough, who have all been inspired by the gardens' vast collections of plant species from Amazon rainforest, Australian outback, and Himalayan Mountains.

Introduction

Kew Gardens is one of the largest and most diverse botanical gardens in the world, with a collection of over 30,000 different plant species from Tropical rainforest, Desert, and Alpine environments, including Orchidaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Cactaceae. The gardens are home to several glasshouses, including the Palm House, Temperate House, and Princess of Wales Conservatory, which provide a unique environment for the cultivation and study of exotic plant species from Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa. The gardens are also a center for horticultural research and conservation efforts, with partnerships with organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund, International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

History

The history of Kew Gardens dates back to the 16th century, when it was a physic garden for St. Thomas' Hospital, established by Henry VIII and later expanded by Charles II and Queen Victoria. The gardens were later acquired by George III and became a royal botanic garden, with the appointment of Sir Joseph Banks as the gardens' first director, who was also a prominent figure in the Royal Society and a close friend of Carl Linnaeus. The gardens have since been expanded and developed, with the addition of new glasshouses and conservation facilities, including the Millennium Seed Bank, which is a partnership with the Wellcome Trust and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Gardens and Conservation

The gardens at Kew are divided into several distinct areas, including the Arboretum, Rock Garden, and Woodland Garden, which feature a wide range of plant species from North America, Europe, and Asia, including Quercus robur, Fagus sylvatica, and Acer palmatum. The gardens are also home to several conservation programs, including the Kew Seed Bank, which is a partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne and the New York Botanical Garden, and the Kew Herbarium, which is one of the largest and most comprehensive herbaria in the world, with specimens from Charles Darwin's Beagle voyage and Joseph Dalton Hooker's Himalayan expedition. The gardens are also involved in several international conservation efforts, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Buildings and Structures

The buildings and structures at Kew Gardens are an integral part of the gardens' history and character, including the Palm House, which is a Grade I listed building and one of the largest glasshouses in the world, designed by Decimus Burton and Richard Turner, and the Temperate House, which is a Grade II* listed building and features a unique climate control system designed by Donovan Purcell. The gardens are also home to several sculptures and art installations, including works by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, and Andy Goldsworthy, which are part of the gardens' outdoor art collection, and the Kew Palace, which is a Grade I listed building and a former royal residence of George III and Queen Charlotte.

Visitor Information

Kew Gardens is open to visitors throughout the year, with a range of exhibitions and events taking place, including the Kew Gardens Festival, which features live music and theater performances, and the Kew Gardens Christmas lights, which is a popular holiday event in London. Visitors can explore the gardens on their own or take a guided tour, which is led by experienced horticulturalists and conservationists from the Royal Horticultural Society and the Institute of Biology. The gardens also offer a range of educational programs and workshops for children and adults, including botany classes and gardening courses, which are taught by experts from the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. Category:Botanical gardens