Wednesday 5 th October 2011
Kew Through the Looking Glass by Harry Townsend
Harry Townsend (left) was assistant curator at Kew Gardens for 14 years and prior to that he spent 8 years at Wakehurst Place as garden supervisor. He is also a tireless founder and supporter of the Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund in memory of his wife. He has climbed Kilimanjaro, walked the Pilgrim Trail, pushed a wheelbarrow across New Zealand’s North Isle, mobilised rugby players and other celebrities and raised over £300,000 for the fund.
First a fact.
Kew is not the oldest Botanic garden, this honour belongs to Padova, The botanical garden of Padova, founded in 1545 after deliberation of the Senate of the Venetian Republic, is the world’s oldest academic garden that has been preserving throughout the centuries its original location and, despite some modifications at the beginning of the 18th century, its main scientific and architectonical features too.
Harry started by painting a picture of the personalities who initiated the botanic interests, these included King George ll and his wife Caroline and their son Frederick. No love was lost between parents and son, and there was also very little affection for George, who could hardly speak English, from the population. Nonetheless they brought together the various gardens and in 1759, Princess Augusta the widow of Frederick, and Lord Bute established the first botanic garden at Kew, employing William Aiton as the gardener. The Physic or Exotic Garden is the direct ancestor of today's establishment and this date is now accepted as the foundation of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Rapid development occurred in George lll’s reign, he of the madness and also known as farmer George. He died in 1820, the same year as Sir Joseph Banks, who was the king’s advisor on Kew and also took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage (1768–1771).
Kew’s principal role is one of research, particularly in Taxonomy, the identification and naming of plants. It also preserves and propagates very rare and threatened plants, many with very valuable pharmaceutical properties.
Kew's nine-acre original botanic garden dates from 1759 in the reign of King George III, who was a keen gardener, and his daughter Augusta, who also had a passion for plants. Sir Joseph Banks was the first curator and Capability Brown was called to give advice.
Kew had many facets and a variety of the plants were used as cures for various ailments and their healing properties have continued to be used in modern medicines, including Yam, the basis of the first contraceptive pill! Not just a garden but, more importantly a scientific institution, where the naming of plants took place. The incredible conservatory, originally opened by Augusta, Princess of Wales, was re-opened by the late Diana, Princess of Wales!
Harry, having dealt with the history, then took us on a tour of the gardens, calling at the Pagoda (left), which upset a Japanese visitor for not having either 7 or 9 stories, very propitious numbers, but having 10, not so good! It is however still standing.
He than froze our cockles with a description of the Ice House, a common means of storing perishable food before the invention of the fridge. Ice from the Thames was layered with straw and carcasses etc to form a very cold environment, but Harry pointed out that ice from the Thames was very good at capturing anything that floated on the river and that included whatsoever the population chose to dump in it. Nasty!
We then headed for the Palm house by way of Queens College and the tranquil Rhododendron Dell, pausing to reflect on the efforts of troops of the 19th century who excavated this area with just spades and elbow grease.
The Palm house has been a feature of Kew for generations but in 1980 was in need a revitalisation. It was completely refurbished, with new pillars needed and more than a lick of paint. The need for fund raising also reared its head and the internals were rejigged to include an aquarium beneath the building.
We continued our ramble past the Vinca Rosea, carefully saved for medical science. The species has long been cultivated for herbal medicine and as an ornamental plant. In traditional Chinese medicine, extracts from it have been used to treat numerous diseases, including diabetes, malaria, and Hodgkin's disease. The substances vinblastine and vincristine extracted from the plant are used in the treatment of leukemia.
We tripped over several school parties enjoying and learning about all aspects of cultivation and preservation as Kew sees its teaching role as essential in helping to preserve endangered species. This brought us to the Temperate House which had also been refurbished and with changes that allowed for concerts to be held inside. This contributed vitally to the fund raising but also had to satisfy health and safety, tiresome but accomplished satisfactorily, the falling nut on John Lills head being but a minor infraction.
No visit to Kew is complete without a visit to the Marianne North gallery (above). The beautifully restored and refurbished Marianne North Gallery has now re-opened and is an experience not to be missed. The Gallery first opened in 1882 and is the only permanent solo exhibition by a female artist in Britain. Kew visitors can enjoy the Victorian treasure house in all its glory and view the remarkable botanical art collection of the pioneering Marianne North.
Harry then introduced us to several interesting specimens including the gnarled Stone Pine, a very climbable tree, the Monkey Puzzle, a very unclimable tree and the famous giant water lilies (below), 8 feet in diameter and armed on the edges and underside with stings far more painful than nettles.
Harry reflected on the impact of the great storm of 1987, and although there was little damage at Kew, Wakehust was far more badly hit. He said that they had a wake-up call. They realised that Kew was something of an Ivory Tower and they had to make themselves more accessible and understandable. Since then Kew has embraced change and become much more child friendly. The recent treetop level walkway has mass appeal and conservation has become a major feature of the evolution of the gardens.
Kew is alive and looking to the future, part of its success is treasuring the past and Harry was thanked for being a great advocate of this mission.
Ken Taylor
More about Harry
Harry (ex-rugby coach), now 70, has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, walked the Pilgrim Trail across northern Spain (500 miles) to Santiago (his book, The Slowest Pilgrim is available at £6.99), pushed a wheelbarrow across the north island of New Zealand (800 miles) and run a marathon in the Sahara. To follow are the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, a North Pole marathon and a trek across the Grand Canyon, rim to rim, all part of the Seven Challenges in Seven Continents after the age of seventy! An excellent speaker, we wish Harry continued success with his fundraising and if you wish to know more about the Charity contact him by email: harry@melanoma-fund.co.uk or just phone him on 01342 322508 or http://www.melanoma-fund.co.uk
