Kew Magazine Archive

Autumn 2012

• Renowned environment writer Richard Mabey gives us a fresh perspective on the David Nash at Kew exhibition, with stunning images from John Millar. Download a pdf.
• Discover the many exquisite autumn cyclamen at Wakehurst and Kew, and find out how to grow them. Download a pdf.
• Award-winning writer Rachel Mason-Dentinger reveals why Kew research into soil fungi is providing valuable new insights into the health of our forests. Download a pdf.

Also in this issue: Kew's work to research the best ways to harvest fuelwood for communities in Brazil, meet the four Old Lions as they celebrate their 250th anniversary, Kew's unusual walking stick collection revealed, and, how one man helped to transform conservation on St Helena.

Summer 2012

• David Nash talks about his hopes and plans for a unique evolving exhibition at Kew. Download a pdf.
• We follow Kew's GIS team and Herbarium specialists as they head to Sumatra to help save an endangered forest. Download a pdf.
• Richard Wilford reveals the wide range of Penstemons available and encourages us to grow more. Download a pdf.

Also in this issue: Kew's Georgian Kitchens restored, A leaf through Kew's ancient herbals, and, how Wakehurst's Westwood Lake was revitalised.

Spring 2012

• Award-winning director Martin Williams takes us behind the scenes of Kingdom of Plants 3D with David Attenborough. Download a pdf here.
• Stephanie Pain meet Sir David Attenborough to find out what has inspired him about filming the new series in the Gardens.
• Richard Wilford takes us on a tour of Kew's stunning collection of Narcissus. Download a pdf.
• Meet Kew's volunteer guides, who celebrate 20 years of guiding this year.

Winter 2011

• Richard Wilford investigates why the Temperate House is in need of a major restoration and how this iconic glasshouse can be saved. Click here to download a pdf.
• Meet Dr Bruce Pavlik, Kew's new head of restoration ecology, who is leading an exciting new programme of conserving and restoring habitats. Download a pdf about the new programme.
• Take a tour of the Grass Garden at Kew, as Michelle Cleave reveals its highlights and explains its recent redesign.
• Andrew Jackson sheds light on how Wakehurst Place is turning to renewable energy. Download a pdf here.

Autumn 2011

• Dr Martyn Ainsworth takes us on a fungal foray around Kew to show us some of the amazing fungi growing in the Gardens. Download a pdf.
• Meet Kew's Madagascar team and find out how they are helping to save many unique and threatened species
• Carolyn Fry investigates why UK wildflower seeds are being produced in Wakehurst's nursery and just what the UK Native Seed Hub is all about. Download a pdf.
• Owen Johnson, from The Tree Register, tells us why it is so vital that we should map and measure Britain's major trees

Summer 2011

• Stephen Anderton gives us the inside view on an RHS Chelsea flower show garden made entirely of useful plants. Download a pdf.
• Gail Vines meets Tiziana Ulian at Kew's Millennium Seed Bank and hears about the benefits of the MGU Useful Plants Project. Download a pdf.
• Chris Clennett takes us on a tour of some of the most beautiful hardy orchids growing at Wakehurst.
• Ursula Buchan ponders why we have such a deep seated need to garden.

Spring 2011

• Richard Wilford introduces the delightful pasque flowers on Kew's Rock Garden. Download a pdf.
• Gail Vines explores some of the most intriguing items in the Economic Botany Collection.
• A century on from his death, we take a look at the astonishing life of Kew director Sir Joseph Hooker. Download a pdf.
• Stephanie Pain reports on Kew's success in tracking down new palm species in Madagascar.

Winter 2010

• Juliette Jowit explores Kew's historic Herbarium and the advantages offered by its newly completed extension. Download a pdf here.
• Richard Wilford goes in search of exquisite alpines and the intrepid plant hunters who first brought them to our gardens.
• Colin Clubbe travels to the remote Indian Ocean islands of Chagos to help assess and restore their native flora. Download a pdf here.
• Kew's Henk Beentje reports on a 62-year project to record the plants of tropical East Africa. Download a pdf here.

Autumn 2010

• Christopher Stocks explores how Kew’s seed conservation work inspired the amazing UK Pavilion at the World Expo. Download a pdf here.
• Horticultural manager Tony Hall describes his seed-collecting trips to boost Kew’s Mediterranean plant collections.
• Head of Wakehurst, Andrew Jackson takes a closer look at the mosses, lichens, liverworts and ferns that make Wakehurst’s Francis Rose Reserve so special.
• Life on a knife-edge: Stephanie Pain reports on Kew’s work to help save the tiny parsley fern, once thought to be extinct. Download a pdf of this article here.

Summer 2010

• Read how Kew staff are working to conserve biodiversity in countries around the world. Download a pdf of this article now.
• It's peak season for pollinating insects, so why not see what you can spot in the Gardens? Sandra Bell points out some favourites. Download a pdf of this article here.
• We take a closer look at the research underway at Wakehurst, which aims to understand the honeybee.
• Award winning writer, Ambra Edwards, discovers how Kew is inspiring children about the natural world. 

Spring 2010

• Find out how Kew's GIS team are providing vital resources to help conserve plants and habitats. Download a pdf of this article now.
• Kew botanists discovered and described almost 300 species in 2009 - find out why this work is so important. Download a pdf
• Kew's cherry collection bursts into life this season - Richard Wilford explores their colourful history
• Mystery surrounds Kew's set of Japanese painted timber panels - Mark Nesbitt reveals their secrets. Download a pdf of this article here.

Winter 2009

• Kew's work in helping to protect Europe's snowdrops.
• Garden designer Dan Pearson tells how nature and wild plants inspire him and his work.
• Kew's Oliver Whaley reports from Peru about the effects of climate change on the native flora and people. Download a pdf of this article now.
• Emma Townshend reports on the fascinating letters by Charles Darwin in Kew's archives.

Autumn 2009

• Go behind the scenes at the Millennium Seed Bank to find out how seeds from all over the world are prepared for storage.
• Richard Scrase reports on efforts to conserve plants and traditional knowledge in Botswana.
• Discover the jewels of autumn - vibrant berries that light up the season. Download a pdf of this article now.
• Travel to South Georgia with botanist Marie Briggs who battles icy winds in search of native plants.

Summer 2009

• Meet the gardeners who keep Kew in tip-top condition.
• Take a tour through Kew's rose collection.
• Iain Parkinson reveals the magic of  Wakehurst's meadows. Download a pdf of this article now.
• Andrea Wulf takes us back in time to tell the story of Joseph Banks' influence on Kew.
• The International Garden Photographer of the Year competition 2009.

Spring 2009

The 250th anniversary souvenir issue

• Why we all need botanic gardens.
• A fascinating history of Kew from A to Z.
• Gail Vines reports on Kew's latest trip to Vietnam to assess and help conserve the flora. Download a pdf of this article now.
• Go behind the scenes to see how Marianne North's paintings are being restored.

Winter 2008

• Emma Townshend discovers how Kew's famous Tropical Extravaganza display is put together.
• Explore the diverse and important world of palms. Download a pdf of this article now.
• Discover the amazing tropical pitcher plants at Kew.
• We head to Lapland with student Matti Niissalo to search for orchids.
• Chris Clennett takes us on a tour of the delights of Wakehurst's winter garden.