Press Release
LORD SELBORNE SUCCEEDS VISCOUNT BLAKENHAM AT KEW
8 October 2003
Lord
Selborne has been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew, it was announced today by Horticulture Minister
Lord Whitty.
He will take over from Viscount Blakenham, who has spent 12 years on the Board, including six as Chair, and oversaw Kew’s successful application to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lord Whitty said:
“I am pleased to announce the appointment of Lord Selborne as Chair of the Board of Trustees. He is taking up the post during an important phase in Kew’s development as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the same time, our grateful thanks go to Viscount Blakenham who steps down as Chair after six years and whose dedication to Kew’s causes has been outstanding.”
Lord Selborne said: '”Kew is a scientific, amenity and educational organisation of world importance, devoted to increasing knowledge and public understanding of plant and fungal diversity. As a horticulturist with a long involvement in science policy and in promoting sustainable development, I amdeeply honoured to be invited to succeed Michael Blakenham as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.”
Kew Gardens houses more than 40 listed buildings and other structures including the Palm House, Temperate House, Orangery and Pagoda. There are also two ancient monuments, Queen Charlotte's Cottage and Kew Palace, managed by Historic Royal Palaces.
Biographical Details
Lord Selborne, KBE, FRS is Managing Director of Blackmoor Estate Limited,
a farming and horticultural business in Hampshire. He has held many
positions in the public and private sector. He is currently Chair of
the House of Lords Sub Committee D (Environment, Agriculture, Public
Health and Consumer Protection) and Chancellor of Southampton University.
Previous posts include President of the Royal Geographical Society,
Chair of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Chair of the Agricultural
and Food Research Council. He was a Trustee of RBG, Kew, from 1993 to
1998 and is a Trustee of both the John Innes Foundation and the Lawes
Agricultural Trust at Rothamsted. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society
and Chair of the UK Chemicals Stakeholder Forum.
Notes for editors
1. The Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), Kew, is an executive non-departmental public body created by the National Heritage Act 1983, sponsored by Defra and operating under a Board of Trustees. Defra grants-in-aid to RBG will be about £21 million for 2003/4.
2. The appointment procedure was carried out under the code issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Detail about the Commission and the Code are available at www.ocpa.gov.uk.
3. The three-year appointment will be effective from 12 October 2003.
4. Lord Selborne takes the Conservative Whip in the House of Lords.
5. For more information about RBG Kew or an interview with Lord Selborne, please call Hannah Rogers at the RBG Kew press office on 0208 332 5607. The RBG Kew website can be viewed at: www.kew.org
6. RBG Kew was awarded World Heritage Site status on 3 July 2003. For more information, please view: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/latest/2003/kew.htm
7. A digital photograph of Lord Selborne is available on request.
Press enquiries 020 7238 6092;
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Press notices are available on DEFRA's website - www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development
End
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