Themed Guided Tours
at Wakehurst PlaceWednesday 28 May –
an investigation into man reliance on plants for medicines and herbal treatments,
with an emphasis on the importance of wild plant species. Leaves at 11am and led
by Ranger Pip Flint-Hartle. Tuesday 1 July – the evolution of the Millennium
Seed Bank. Now home to an £80m international conservation project, the seed
bank’s origins at Wakehurst Place go back to the 1970s, and started life
humbly as a small deep freezer. Today it holds seeds from some of the planet’s
most rare and endangered plants – some 300 million examples. The talk and
walk is led by ranger Veronica Withall and will take in previous locations of
the seed bank. Wednesday 9 July – ranger Pip Flint Hartle leads a walk
of wild flowers used for medicine. The tour of the gardens will take in some familiar
as well as some rarely known plants which have provided treatments and cures through
the ages, in this country and around the world. Wednesday 16 July –
Judy Robinson leads a walk for deaf visitors who can lip read, or who are accompanied
by someone who can sign for them. This will be a chance for the deaf to learn
something of the history and evolution of Wakehurst Place as one of the leading
botanical gardens. Wednesday 23 July – join Dick Stalker to discover
more about David Douglas, a plant collectors legacy. Friday 8 August –
another chance to join Veronica Withall for the evolution of the Millennium Seed
Bank. Wednesday 13 August – Rob Jubb on plant hunters - how the intrepid
braved the elements and travelled the globe to seek out new plants, some of which
have become household favourites today. Thursday 28 August – Rob Jubb
looks at trees, the enormous variety at Wakehurst Place, and the different used
of their woods - from fuel to building materials, food, etc.
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