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Keystage 2 - Gardens - Botanical gardens
The British created botanical gardens all over the world to increase the wealth of the Empire. Botanic gardens acted as distribution centres for the transferral of economically important plants from their native habitats to overseas colonies. Great fortunes were built on the relocation of plants such as tea, sugar, rubber and bananas.
Today, though, one of the major roles of botanic gardens is conservation. They are both a haven for threatened plants and a source for their re-introduction to the wild.
Today, though, one of the major roles of botanic gardens is conservation. They are both a haven for threatened plants and a source for their re-introduction to the wild.
Webquest
What is the role of Botanical Gardens today?
Find four examples that you think are important. Kew's website will help you.Do Botanical Gardens serve the same purpose today as they did in 1765?
Look at these two pictures on the left. They are historic paintings of Indian street sellers trading in plant or plant products.What do you think they are selling, and why?
