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Kew Gardens, located in the southwest of London, is a renowned botanical garden and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that spans over 300 acres. It serves both as a scientific research site and a leisure destination for visitors. Established in 1840, its living collections include more than 30,000 different kinds of plants, while the herbarium, which is one of the largest in the world, has over seven million preserved plant specimens. The gardens also house a comprehensive library with over 750,000 volumes, along with numerous manuscripts and botanical illustrations.
Kew is celebrated for its beautiful landscapes, iconic Victorian glasshouses, and historic buildings. The Palm House, a pioneering iron and glass structure, is one of its most famous features, housing a remarkable collection of tropical plants. The Temperate House, the world’s largest surviving Victorian glasshouse, showcases plants from the world’s temperate regions. Kew’s Treetop Walkway offers visitors a unique perspective, allowing them to walk among the canopy of the gardens’ trees.
Kew Gardens is also involved in significant scientific research and conservation work, with initiatives aimed at understanding plant diversity, conservation of endangered plant species, and sustainable use of plant resources. Its work extends beyond the gardens themselves, contributing to global conservation and botanical science.
****Describe the origin of Kew gardens.
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The origins of Kew Gardens trace back to the 18th century, with its foundation rooted in the smaller exotic gardens at Kew Park, initially developed by Henry Capel, Lord Capell of Tewkesbury, and later greatly expanded by Princess Augusta, the widow of Frederick, Prince of Wales, along with her son, King George III. Princess Augusta established a more structured garden and a small botanic garden in 1759, which marked the beginning of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew as it is known today.
Under the guidance of Sir Joseph Banks, a prominent British naturalist and botanist who became the unofficial director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in the late 18th century, Kew Gardens significantly expanded its collection of plants. Banks was instrumental in transforming Kew into a center for scientific research and botanical studies. He sent collectors all over the world to bring back plants, which dramatically increased the diversity of the gardens’ collections.
Throughout the 19th century, Kew Gardens continued to grow in size and scope under the leadership of directors such as Sir William Hooker and his son Sir Joseph Hooker. During this period, several iconic structures were constructed, including the Palm House and the Temperate House, which were engineering marvels of their time and provided the necessary environments to house exotic plants from around the globe.
The development of Kew Gardens was not just for aesthetic pleasure but also for scientific research, with a focus on the study of plant diversity, the establishment of botanical science, and efforts in conservation. Over the centuries, Kew has evolved from a royal pleasure ground to a world-leading scientific institution in plant and fungal research, conservation, and education, while still maintaining its role as a beautiful and tranquil public garden.
****List Kew Gardens most well- known attractions.
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Kew Gardens boasts several well-known attractions that draw visitors from around the world. Here’s a list of some of the most prominent features:
- The Palm House: An iconic example of Victorian glass and iron architecture, this greenhouse is home to a diverse collection of tropical rainforest plants.
- The Temperate House: The world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, it shelters thousands of plants from the world’s temperate regions, showcasing the diversity of species that thrive in a milder climate.
- The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Beyond the greenhouses, the entire garden itself is an attraction, with its vast collection of living plants and herbarium specimens for scientific research.
- The Treetop Walkway: Standing 18 meters above the ground, this walkway provides a unique perspective of the gardens, allowing visitors to walk among the treetops and observe the diverse ecosystem of the canopy.
- Kew Palace: The smallest of the British royal palaces, it offers a glimpse into royal history and is noted for its distinctive brickwork and historical significance.
- The Great Pagoda: Built in 1762, this ten-story octagonal structure offers panoramic views of London and is an example of the fascination with Chinese and East Asian architecture during the 18th century.
- The Princess of Wales Conservatory: Named after Princess Augusta, this glasshouse contains ten different climate zones, ranging from dry desert to tropical rainforest environments, showcasing a wide variety of plants.
- The Waterlily House: Known for its collection of giant waterlilies, this is the hottest and most humid environment at Kew, specifically designed to support the growth of these spectacular plants.
- The Rock Garden: This carefully designed landscape features alpine and mountainous plants from around the world, offering a rugged contrast to the more manicured parts of the gardens.
- The Davies Alpine House: A newer addition to Kew, this greenhouse is designed to create the cool, dry conditions alpine plants thrive in, using innovative, sustainable climate control technologies.
These attractions, among others, make Kew Gardens a fascinating place for both leisurely exploration and scientific discovery.
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every time after visiting Kew Gardens, I always go to nearby tea room to try their maids of honour tarts.
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“The Original Maids of Honour” is a charming tea room located near Kew Gardens in London, renowned for its historical ambiance and traditional British fare. Its name is derived from a unique pastry, the Maid of Honour tart, which is closely associated with the establishment. According to local legend, the recipe for these tarts was a closely guarded secret of Henry VIII’s court at Richmond Palace. The king stumbled upon Anne Boleyn and her maids eating the tarts and was so enamored by their taste that he locked the recipe in a chest in Richmond Palace. The current recipe used by “The Original Maids of Honour” is said to date back to the 18th century, though it remains a well-kept secret.