Kew magazine blog

You can search for articles by topic (conservation, in the gardens, behind the scenes, and heritage and arts) or browse for articles by issue. I've just uploaded some pdfs of articles from the winter 2010 issue - see below for our Chagos Islands article by Colin Clubbe - so do have a look.

Click on the image above to download a pdf of this Kew magazine article

I'd be interested to know if you'd like more articles available or if there are some you've loved that aren't up there. I'm hoping those that are there give a good flavour of the topics Kew magazine covers about Kew's work.

Have a browse and pass links on to your friends – we'd love to know what they think too!

If you want to see ALL the articles in each issue online you can subscribe to the Exact Editions digital edition of Kew magazine – either as a new subscriber for just £18 a year, or if you are a Friend of Kew and would prefer to receive your magazine electronically rather than in print – email us at publishing@kew.org and let us know your name, address and membership number.

Exact Editions subscriptions offer searchable back issues so if you subscribe now you get access to issues dating back to 2008. Bargain!

Try an issue now for free!

- Christina -

In the spring issue of Kew magazine (out in the first week of March) we'll be marking the 20th anniversary of Kew's flagship publication with a look back over 20 of the key ways Kew has made a difference in the past two decades. It was really interesting to put this list together, and very hard to limit it to just 20 in number.

It was a poignant reminder of the importance of Kew's work and just how wide-ranging it is – from saving and caring for endangered species, to dealing with Customs' seizures, to putting on fascinating exhibitions and educational programmes, to running the world's largest ex situ conservation project in the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership. 

The Wellcome Trust Millennium Seed Bank building at Wakehurst (Image: RBG Kew)

Nearly all of Kew's work is done in partnership with other organisations, and with funding bodies and supporters. It is heartening to see that so many people can work together with the goal of documenting, researching and conserving plant life. 

Hot onto the presses

We've literally just sent our spring issue off to press and we hope there is something for everyone in there - Richard Wilford takes a look at Kew's beautiful pasque flower (Pulsatilla) collection on the Rock Garden and revels in the glorious spring magnolias,  and we take a peek behind the scenes at the (very) curious objects in the Economic Botany Collection too. 

Kew has 85,000 objects in its Economic Botany Collection (Image: RBG Kew)

Thank you for your help

We've just brought our reader survey to an end as well, and there have been some very interesting and supportive comments! Thank you. We'll be taking time to look over what everyone has said, and using the results to inform our decisions over the six months about the design and content of the magazine. One lucky winner and a friend will be enjoying an orchid-inspired afternoon tea in the Orangery during Tropical Extravaganza as their prize. Do come along and see the festival in the Princess of Wales Conservatory this month – I popped in earlier today and it is truly stunning.

-Christina-

Kew magazine is available on subscription as a print or electronic edition.

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This is the question asked by Georgina Langdale in a feature in the latest Kew magazine. Georgina has been involved in an international study into the true value of nature, namely The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity – known as TEEB.

She makes the point that nature is often invisible to us in terms of its importance and economic value, hence its ongoing degradation around the world. The values of its benefits are often overlooked or poorly understood. But if this perception was changed, governments, businesses and individuals would save money, maintain healthy habitats and save endangered species at the same time.

This approach of valuing 'natural capital' and working with nature is already being taken up by some – you can see examples on the TEEB website and it is hoped this way of thinking will accelerate in the future as its benefits become clear.

Georgina argues that 'business as usual' is ultimately self-defeating.

Kew is involved in many international projects to ensure natural capital is not lost, including the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership, which has an international network working to save plants and habitats under threat on a daily basis.

MSBP staff on a seed collecting expedition in Malawi

TEEB has produced a series of reports – for policy makers, business and for citizens. The final report was presented at COP 10 in Nagoya, Japan in October.

Read Georgina's article in Kew magazine, and go to teebweb where all the reports are available for download.

You can subscribe to Kew magazine as a print or digital edition - find out more here.

Carolyn Fry's articles Desperately Seeking Species (which appeared in our spring 2010 issue) and Saving a World of Diversity (from summer 2010) were both finalists in the environment category of the 2010 Garden Media Guild awards this week. The Kew magazine team were absolutely thrilled to reach the finals again, especially as two articles made it through! 

Kew Publishing did really well at the awards - winning Reference Book of the Year for The Kew Plant Glossary: an illustrated dictionary of plant identification terms by Kew botanist Dr Henk Beentje. This is an immensely useful guide to all botanical terms.

Henk Beentje (left) receives his award

The judges were unanimous in voting this the winner, saying:

"A reference book that provides clear definitions, excellent line drawings and would fit into a large pocket for on-the-spot use. The cover is alluring and exciting and the contents exemplary in accuracy. Thrill to the fact that not only will technical terms from abaxial to zygomorphous be at your fingertips, but that you will understand them. The correct names for shapes, divisions and colours of leaves, flowers, seeds and fruit are all described and annotated. Impeccable and a great investment."

Poisonous Plants: A guide for parents & childcare providers by Elizabeth Dauncey, published by Kew Publishing was another finalist in this category, while Why People Need Plants - published in association with the Open University - was a finalist in the Plants and Well Being award.  

To add to the excitement further, Kew's website was also a finalist in the online media website of the year award. It was quite an afternoon! 
 

 - Christina -

It's not long now and the winter issue of Kew magazine will be out, delivered to all the Friends of Kew and available, bright and fresh, on the stands in Kew's shops. When you see the stunning cover you'll know that one of the main articles is about those little gems of the plant world – alpines.

             Massonia pustulata, Image: Richard Wilford

Alpines are the plants we can rely on to brighten the winter season. Kew's manager of alpine collections, Richard Wilford, is the author of a new book from Kew publishing – Alpines, from mountain to garden, which is a treasure trove of information about alpines from all corners of the globe. In the winter issue, Richard has written a feature for us on how many of the familiar alpine species were first discovered and picks eight of his favourites, which you could try at home too. The book and the feature are packed with fab images. There's also a special offer for Kew magazine readers – so do take a look.

Dionysia aretioides, Image: Richard Wilford

Whether you get hold of the book or not – why not come and enjoy the wonderful displays in the Davies Alpine House, Rock Garden and nearby Woodland Garden at Kew this winter? Many visitors make a bee-line for this area to see the wide variety of species – from stunners such as the many snowdrops, Pulsatilla, Erythronium and saxifrages, to the truly bizarre such as the Massonia and Arum species there. Do make time to head in that direction on your next visit.  

-Christina-

Kew magazine is available from all the Kew shops. You can also subscribe to a print or digital edition.