Kew and the UK Overseas Territories: historical links

After its establishment as a botanic garden in 1759, Kew quickly began to acquire plants from Britain’s colonies in the tropics and sub-tropics. Some 16 of the colonies, mostly small island states, have maintained their strong links with the UK and these have become the UK Overseas Territories.

Sir Joseph Banks, who effectively took charge of the Gardens from 1772, instigated plant collecting expeditions, encouraged the transfer of crop plants around the world and supported the development of botanic gardens in other countries. A botanic garden was founded in St Helena as ‘a convalescent home for sickly plants’ en route between Africa and India and South America.

Under the auspices of Sir William Hooker, Kew’s first official director from 1841, the Palm House was built to accommodate the ever-increasing collection of tropical plants. The Herbarium also continued to grow, with huge numbers of dried specimens arriving for describing and cataloguing from plant collecting expeditions throughout the British Empire. Sir William’s son, Joseph Hooker, travelled widely in search of plants. In the mid-nineteenth century, he joined the HMS Erebus on its voyage to the Antarctic. Whenever possible, he botanised at the ship’s ports of call, including in the Falklands and on St Helena and Ascension, all of which are now UK Overseas Territories.

Throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Kew provided advice on the introduction of economic plants into new areas worldwide. It also sent skilled staff abroad to manage botanical and horticultural stations in various places, including Montserrat, Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands.

Kew’s role in the UKOTs has changed dramatically since the days of the British Empire. Through its projects and ongoing activities, the UKOTs Programme directly contributes to biodiversity conservation in the UK Overseas Territories and supports the implementation of the the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. All activities take place in collaboration with local partners and help to build local capacity.

Find out more about:

Convention on Biological Diversity
Global Strategy on Plant Conservation