Thinking
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(Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) has served as a central global hub for botanical collection and scientific exchange since its founding in 1759. Its role has evolved from a royal pleasure garden into a world-leading scientific institution and UNESCO World Heritage site.
The "Golden Age" of Plant Hunting (18th–19th Centuries)
During the late 1700s and 1800s, Kew became the primary destination for plants collected across the British Empire.
Pioneering Collectors: Sir Joseph Banks, acting as unofficial director, sent out the first formal collectors like Francis Masson, who returned with thousands of specimens from South Africa in 1772. Banks himself brought back over 1,300 species from Australia following his voyage with Captain Cook.
Economic Botany: A major driver for collection was the discovery of "economic" plants that could generate imperial wealth. This included the redistribution of rubber, tea, and cinchona (used for quinine) to British colonies.
Technological Innovation: The invention of the Wardian case—a glazed glass box—in 1829 revolutionized collection by allowing live plants to survive long sea voyages.
Colonial Legacy and Modern Reflection
In 2025, Kew is actively addressing its "entanglement" with the British Empire.
Scientific Exploitation: Historical collections were often built on extractive practices that exploited local knowledge and resources.
Restorative Research: New 2025 exhibitions, such as Flora Indica, focus on recovering the lost stories of Indian artists and botanists who were vital co-creators of colonial botanical knowledge.
Modern Role: Conservation and Science (20th Century–Present)
Today, Kew’s historical role has shifted from acquisition for empire to global preservation.
World’s Largest Collection: Kew holds the Guinness World Record for the largest living plant collection, with over 16,900 species.
Seed Banking: The Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst (Kew's sister site) houses seeds from 190 countries, representing roughly 16% of global plant species to protect against extinction.
Climate Leadership in 2025: As part of its Our Manifesto for Change 2021-2030strategy, Kew is using its vast archives to address 2025's climate challenges, including opening a new Carbon Garden in July 2025 to showcase nature-based solutions for carbon sequestration.