What's happening this year?

2005 sees Gardens of Glass: Chihuly at Kew, the UK's first major garden installation by renowned American artist Dale Chihuly. See our web pages on current events in the gardens

Why did you receive lizards confiscated at Heathrow Airport?

Kew Gardens and Wakehurst Place have been the recipients of items illegally imported into the UK which have been confiscated by Customs and Excise. Another example is the timber used to construct the Field Study Centre at Wakehurst Place

Is the Field Hospital still at Kew?

No, the Field Hospital was just at Kew for the Go Wild Festival in summer 2003. You can find out more about the Field Hospital on this website

What has happened to the remedy cards collected in the Field Hospital?

These have been collated and the most popular are shown on the ethno-medica web-site - www.kew.org/ethnomedica

How can I find out more about the Giant Bamboo that was being pruned in the Palm House?

See the plant profile: Giant Bamboo

How do I find out more about traditional and herbal remedies?

You may find these web-pages helpful - www.kew.org/scihort/
eblinks/medic.html & www.kew.org/ethnomedica

Can I find out more about the Defra Garden and the ideas behind it?

Find out about the Defra Garden and see a 360-degree panorama at www.kew.org/places/
kew/defrabiodiversity.html. There is also a leaflet available in the Gardens

Which poem inspired Mary Reynolds' design for the Defra Garden?

'The Stolen Child' by W B Yeats

What is the connection between Defra and Kew?

Under the Heritage Act, 1983, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew became a corporate body with charitable status. It had previously been adminstered by the then Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). It is now partially financed by Defra. This sponsorship by the UK Government reflects the importance of the fundamental science and conservation work carried out by Kew and our significance as a world-leading botanic garden. The remaining funding (approximately 40%) is from admissions, commercial activities and fund-raising.

What happened to the carp released in the Defra Garden?

The Defra Garden, designed by Mary Reynolds, was opened by Michael Meacher with a carp being released into the pond. It has been returned to the Palm House Pond.

Can I come fishing?

Fishing is not permitted in Kew Gardens

What fish are there at Kew?

Carp are in the lake and in the Palm House Pond as well as the fish which was released in the Defra Pond. The Princess of Wales Conservatory has catfish and an aquaria, and there is a marine display in the Palm House.

When is next titan arum due to flower?

April 2005: a Titan Arum is due to flower in the middle of this month.

To see a timeline of previous flowerings, and discover more about this spectacular plant, see the extensive online information on our special titan arum profile pages

We can never be sure when the next titan arum will bloom. News of any imminent flowerings will also be posted on the titan arum profile pages. Plants can usually be seen in leaf in the Princess of Wales Conservatory.

Why is it necessary to pollinate the titan arum?

Kew staff pollinate the plant to ensure seed for future generations. More details at www.kew.org/plants/titan

Why is titan arum's smell so unpleasant?

Titan arum's pollinators are insects that are attracted by rotting flesh - sweat bees. Titan arum imitates this smell to encourage pollination. The smell has been analysed by our experts in the Jodrell Laboratory

I would like to find out more about Mary Reynolds

Mary Reynolds is a gold-medal winner at the 2002 Chelsea Flower Show. She can be contacted at artndesign@eircom.net