Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
London - Richmond upon Thames, England
22.10.2021
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew – A UNESCO World Heritage Site in London, England
The Kew Gardens, also known as the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, are a breathtakingly beautiful and historically significant site located in Richmond upon Thames, London. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, these gardens are not only a popular tourist destination, but also a center for research and conservation of plants.
The history of the Kew Gardens dates back to the 16th century when King Henry VII acquired the land and built a royal palace on the site. However, it was during the reign of Queen Victoria that the gardens were transformed into their current state. With the help of renowned botanist Sir William Hooker, the gardens were expanded and new plant species were introduced, making it one of the most diverse and extensive botanical collections in the world.
Over the years, the Kew Gardens have played a significant role in the fields of botany and horticulture. It was here that Charles Darwin conducted his research on plants and even today, the gardens continue to contribute to scientific discoveries and conservation efforts.
One of the most iconic features of the Kew Gardens is the Palm House, an impressive Victorian glasshouse that houses tropical plants from around the world. Other notable attractions include the Temperate House, the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse, and the Princess of Wales Conservatory, which showcases a variety of plants from different climates.
Visitors can also explore the beautiful landscapes, including the Great Pagoda, the Japanese Gateway, and the Alpine House. The gardens also have several exhibitions, galleries, and events throughout the year, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and history buffs alike.
The Kew Gardens have also been featured in popular culture, including films such as "James Bond: Quantum of Solace" and "Paddington 2". The gardens have also been a source of inspiration for artists, writers, and poets over the years.
Today, the Kew Gardens continue to captivate visitors with its stunning beauty, rich history, and scientific significance. It is a testament to the enduring legacy of the British monarchy and the importance of preserving our natural heritage.
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This historic landscape garden features elements that illustrate significant periods of the art of gardens from the 18th to the 20th centuries. The gardens house botanic collections (conserved plants, living plants and documents) that have been considerably enriched through the centuries. Since their creation in 1759, the gardens have made a significant and uninterrupted contribution to the study of plant diversity and economic botany.
Kew Gardens is a botanic garden in southwest London that houses the "largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world". Founded in 1840, from the exotic garden at Kew Park, its living collections include some of the 27,000 taxa curated by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, while the herbarium, one of the largest in the world, has over 8.5 million preserved plant and fungal specimens. The library contains more than 750,000 volumes, and the illustrations collection contains more than 175,000 prints and drawings of plants. It is one of London's top tourist attractions and is a World Heritage Site.
Kew Gardens, together with the botanic gardens at Wakehurst in Sussex, are managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, an internationally important botanical research and education institution that employs over 1,100 staff and is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The botanic gardens at Kew formally started in 1759, although they can be traced back to the exotic garden at Kew Park, formed by Henry, Lord Capell of Tewkesbury. The site now consists of 132 hectares (330 acres) of gardens and botanical glasshouses, four Grade I listed buildings, and 36 Grade II listed structures, all set in an internationally significant landscape. Kew Gardens is listed Grade I on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
Kew Gardens has its own police force, Kew Constabulary, which has been in operation since 1845.
