Plants in action at Kew
Plants are essential for clear air and water, food medicine and fuel. About 70% of the world’s population rely on plants for medicine. Scientists at Kew endeavour to discover new ways to make use of plants for good and share this knowledge with others.
Support science and research at Kew | Go behind the scenes with Kew blogs
Eco-fibres old and new
by: Mark Nesbitt, Economic Botany blog13 Dec 2010
Sustainable fibres are ever more popular with consumers and designers. The Textile Society's recent conference compared historic and contemporary approaches to the subject.
- 8 likes
- 1 comment
The 'tanghin ordeal'
by: Charlotte Rowley, Library, Art and Archives blog20 Oct 2010
Read about the toxic plant used in poison ordeals in Madagascar as described by the botanist Charles Telfair in 1829.
- 10 likes
- 0 comments
Retracing the footsteps of Everard Im Thurn in Guyana
by: Sara Albuquerque, Economic Botany blog07 Oct 2010
The South American country of Guyana (formerly British Guiana) has a rich biological and cultural heritage, well-represented in Kew's Economic Botany Collection. A research project seeks to view the historic collections in the context of today's people and environment.
- 15 likes
- 2 comments
Funding to promote use of plants in Africa for pest control
01 Oct 2010
Kew scientists are involved in two recently funded projects that will optimise the use of plants as natural pesticides in Africa.
11 likes2 comments
Tapa cloth and the forgotten women of the Bounty mutiny
by: Mark Nesbitt, Economic Botany blog30 Sep 2010
A visitor to Kew sheds light on tapa cloth made 170 years ago by her Polynesian forebears.
- 10 likes
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Kew helps celebrate the 350th birthday of Sir Hans Sloane
by: Mark Nesbitt, Economic Botany blog18 Aug 2010
Jamaican artefacts from Kew go on display at the Royal College of Physicians - marking the 350th anniversary of the birth of Sir Hans Sloane, botanist, physician and collector.
- 5 likes
- 2 comments
On the trail of the lace-bark tree of Jamaica
by: Emily Brennan, Lori-Ann Harris, Economic Botany blog26 May 2010
The lace-bark tree is the source of a beautiful natural lace, and was a vital part of Jamaican culture for 400 years. Inspired by lace-bark artefacts at Kew, Emily Brennan and Lori-Ann Harris search out the tree and its users in the Jamaican countryside.
- 13 likes
- 3 comments
Exploring plant fibres - Are they fashionable and sustainable?
by: Mark Nesbitt, Economic Botany blog25 Feb 2010
Students from the London College of Fashion visit Kew's Economic Botany Collection to explore the sustainability of natural fibres.
- 5 likes
- 3 comments
Preserving the past for the future
by: Mark Nesbitt, Economic Botany blog12 Jan 2010
How student conservators help care for Kew's collections
- 15 likes
- 0 comments
Fabulous Fibres Exhibition
by: Mark Nesbitt, Economic Botany blog27 Nov 2009
Read what happened when the Economic Botany Collection joined forces with Haslemere Museum
- 5 likes
- 0 comments
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News from the Gardens
Book of the month - The Story of Kew Gardens in Photographs
08 May 2013
This book tells the fascinating story of Kew Gardens through over two hundred and fifty black and white photographs, many of which have never been seen before.
Auriculas - a most beguiling plant now on sale at Kew Gardens
02 May 2013
Stunning auriculas bred by Chelsea Gold medal award winners William, Joan and Simon Lockyer will be sold in the Victoria Plaza garden shop at Kew Gardens from Friday 3 May 2013. Visit soon as stock is limited.
Olympic rings spectacular unveiled
18 Apr 2012
A floral spectacular is in bloom in front of the Orangery at Kew Gardens to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic Games.
David Attenborough's Kingdom of Plants 3D now available on DVD and Blu-ray
13 Mar 2012
Filmed over the course of a year at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Kingdom of Plants 3D provides a fascinating new look at plant life using stunning 3D time-lapse filming techniques. Own your personal copy today following the DVD and Blu-ray release.
