This is the ideal gift for anybody with a keen interest in the Royal Botanic Gardens, its architecture or simply anyone who may love gardening. Why not try your hand at creating your very own fun-filled origami. Download your step-by-step guide today.
The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew is a great British attraction and, this year celebrates its 250th anniversary. To commemorate this special and historic event the Royal Mint has struck a UK 50p coin in sterling silver.
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The Designer – Christopher Le Brun RA
Designer Christopher Le Brun was born in Portsmouth in 1951. He studied at the Slade School of Fine Art (DFA) in London from 1970-74 and at Chelsea School of Art (MA) from 1974-75.
Christopher Le Brun decided to choose the Chinese pagoda as he feels:
‘Like the London Red Bus, the Kew Gardens pagoda is an instantly recognisable symbol and rather to be cherished for that reason. So I decided not to resist such a strong image but rather to enjoy drawing it. The tower’s identity and perpendicular clarity is very useful in a design…I had the idea early on that plants should twine around and grow up through the tower.’
In 1759 Princess Augusta devoted a few acres of her gardens at Kew to a ‘Physic Garden’ where rare and unusual plants were cultivated for study. It was the beginning of Kew’s destiny as a world leader in plant science. The gardens were originally two royal Estates- the Kew Estate and the Richmond Estate - but were combined by George III in the late eighteenth century. In the summer of 1771 the king met Joseph Banks who had just returned to England from a voyage with James Cook. His collection of plants and animals and portfolios impressed the king and their mutual interest in agriculture led to Banks presiding over the Royal Society for 42 years. He was also an active member of many other influential societies, and was admired for his entrepreneurial skills.
Through his patronage and many initiatives Banks elevated Kew to a garden of national status and as a centre for botanical exploration in the colonies. Kew Gardens was handed to the nation in 1841. During its long history as a royal estate and a government institution Kew has never lacked patrons or supporters. In recognition of its historic landscape, listed buildings, Herbarium and Library collections and its achievements in plant conservation, UNESCO awarded it World Heritage status in 2003.