29 March 2019
4 botanists you need to know about
These adventurous botanists have brought plants from across the world to Wakehurst.
David Douglas (1799 - 1834)
David introduced 240 plant species to Britain, including many pines and garden plants like lupins, penstemons and the California poppy.
He shot to fame when he found thousands of previously unknown plants in North America. These include the Douglas fir which is now named after him.
Can you find Wakehurst’s Douglas fir at the top of Bloomers valley?
Ernest Wilson (1876 – 1930)
Ernest worked at Kew when he was a young man.
He transformed British gardens by introducing hundreds of beautiful new plants from China and 63 types of cherry blossoms from Japan.
He collected seeds from the elusive handkerchief tree, which was the only one known to exist. Check out the handkerchief tree in The Slips at Wakehurst to see his work for yourself.
Kate Hardwick (1967 – present)
Kate coordinates the Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) partnerships in Asia. The MSB has links in many Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan.
Kate’s work can be seen in the Asian Heath Garden, where we’re trialing collections from Kyrgyzstan.
She’s had plenty of adventures whilst on expeditions. When collecting seeds from a toxic plant, her whole face swelled up like a tomato!
Michael Way (1967 - present)
Michael sets up and runs plant conservation projects in Mexico, Colombia, Bolivia and Peru, working closely with universities and botanic gardens across the world.
He negotiates agreements with governments and partners, runs training courses, and takes part in expeditions that collect seeds and pressed plant specimens.
He’s had some hair-raising experiences whilst collecting seeds, including a road accident in Mexico that destroyed his exploration vehicle.
Seek out the young monkey puzzle trees in Coates Wood to see his work up close.