Kew Gardens: Botany and the British empire
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is re-examining its past and preparing for the future
The Documentary Podcast · BBC World Service
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Show Notes
For centuries, Kew Gardens was the flash point for a lesser known British imperial project – the collection of plants from colonised nations for political and commercial gain. Author and journalist Rosie Kinchen finds out about the work Kew is doing today to examine this, and looks into how the institution is supporting botanical science and conservation around the globe. Rosie speaks to curatorial and scientific staff at Kew, as well as taking a wider view on the role of plants in colonial history.