The Royal Botanical Garden, KEW
Listed a world heritage site by the UNESCO, in July 2003, the KEW Gardens has invited more than 1.48 million visitors in 2005. The Garden boasts of a conservatory, a herbarium library and eating places.
It would be unjust to not include this region in the itinerary of any tour of the U K. The purpot is to throw light on the significance of the gardens.
Extensive use of the Net, The Encyclopaedia Britannica and the world map has helped at large to unravel the exquisite spot.
The Royal Botanical gardens, the once 30 hectare pleasure ground (Arboretum), now occupies 120 hectares of lush green view. It houses the Wakehurst place gardens and runs the KEW Gardens in Sussex. Situated between Richmond and Kew in South West London, England, the garden is an internationally acclaimed research and educational institution under Prof. Stephen D Hooper.
History
Founded by Lord Capel of Tewkesbury, it was enlarged and extended by Princess Augusta, widow of Frederick, Prince of Wales. A Chinese pagoda by Sir William Chambers still remains.
It was adopted as a national botanical garden in 1840. The Palm House was built by architect Decimus Burton and iron – maker Richard Turner between 1844 and 1848. The year 1987 witnessed the emergence of Kew’s third major conservatory, which has ten climate zones. It was opened by Princess Diana.
Kew gardens today
It is the leading centre of botanical research, training ground for professional gardeners and attracts visitors from all over the world. The gardens are mostly informal, thus serving as an ideal tourist destination.
Unfavorable growing conditions such as atmospheric pollution from London, dry soil and low rainfall, Kew remains as the most comprehensive plant collection in Britain and has established two outstations at Sussex and at Kent.
Library and archive
A delight to the eyes are the innumerable books, botanical illustrations, photographs, letters and manuscripts, periodicals and maps with over a half and a million items. It is a virtual store house of knowledge and caters to the needs of the different sections of the society. Thus it remains an inseparable unit to the garden.
Transport
Nearest combined rail and underground stations is Kew garden station. Bus route is 65 & 391.
Attractions
- Garden walks; free tour of the garden is conducted by trained volunteers.
- Vehicular tour: Kew Explorer 72 seater people mover covers a circular route around the garden. A commentary on the different marvels is provided by the driver.
- Pagoda: In a corner of Kew garden stands the great pagoda, a towering 163 feet monument, 49 feet in diameter. The awe inspiring sight is a reminder of William Chambers, the man behind its construction.
- Chokushi Mon: Standing next is a replica of part of a Japanese temple built in 1910. A copy of the Karaman (Chinese gate of Nishi Hongan – ji in Myoto) is also seen.
- Sackler Crossing: The Bridge made of granite and bronze, opened in May 2006, was designed Buro Happold and John Pawson.
- Museum and gallery: Near Palm house is Museum No.1 which came into being in 1857. Its aim is to illustrate mankind’s dependence on plants. It contains Kew’s economic botany collections including tools, ornaments, clothing, food and medicines.
- Marianne North Gallary: Built in 1880, the exhaustive paintings of Marianne North are artistically displayed. It has around 832 paintings.
- Compost heap: A natural ground, it has the biggest compost heap in the world made from the green waste in the garden.
The Kew Mission: To enable better management of the earth’s environment by increasing knowledge and evaluation of the plants and fungal kingdom – basis of lide on earth.
The Kew group high quality scientific research hands are on a conservation drive to built public understanding and support for sustainability and plant conservation.
There is every ground to believe that the Kew gardens could arouse awareness in the common man to preserve natural heritage, be eco friendly and at the same time shoulder the responsibility to sustain the bio diversity for the coming generations. Every tourist going back home form the gardens would ponder over the pertinent question regarding human contribution to conserve its natural beauty. No wonder the site has attracted more than a million tourists and has raised an outstanding amount!
Works cited
- Royal Botanic Garden, Kew official website.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Annual report – 2006