Essay Example on Kew Gardens - Royal Botanic Gardens in London, UK

Kew Gardens is the brand name for the Royal Botanic Gardens located in Kew, London, UK. It is located at the former royal estate in the London borough of Richmond upon Thames. The Gardens were claimed in 1731 by the Capel family. It was later utilized in the same 18th century as a Garden for exotic plants with more than 3000 plant species. It was managed by Sir Joseph Banks, who ran it to being a collecting area for scientific research for specimens from all over the world. Kew Gardens is run and maintained by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the country. It is known to be a fascinating region for botanical research as well as education. It is also a non-departmental public asset utilized for an international exchange of plant specimens. It was the plantation industry of rubber, and alongside being a quarantine station, it still plays an important role in the production of a variety of plants.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Kew Gardens encompasses the plant diversity of islands as well as the threats faced by the species as well as how best to conserve them. The management ensures that they meet the goal by ensuring an efficient network of agriculture, capital, human, and media circulation. The Gardens have utilized almost all aspects of art and architecture, including landscape, landscape practice, and landscape technology. The network is ensured in various islands, including UK, Madagascar, and the UK Overseas Territories. For instance, Kew has been working on banking the seeds of the native flora of the South Atlantic UKOTs. The region also ensures that it manages the various Ex-situ collections in the islands. The Garden has a Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) that banks the various specimen.

Kew Gardens has been used to also study economic botany beyond the aspects of plant botany. The activities have been influenced by the historic landscape featured by the Garden. Various capital programs have been run to grant the practice of various projects in the Royal Botanic Gardens. For instance, the Land Use Consultants in the region argue for various planning advice and also cooperate with the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames to ensure the delivery of positive outcomes for the clients. Various landscape designs have been implemented to ensure interaction between human, capital, agriculture, and media circulation. One of the examples given by Louise is the broad walk was made by William Andrews Nesfield after consideration of various multiple factors of interaction. The broad walk was initialized to revitalize the neglected borders at Kew to build a transparent and free system. Louise concludes that presently, the herbaceous borders represent the longest borders in the country.

The borders are a vibrant, vast region, with the plants arranged in themes. All the plants in the double herbaceous borders are placed in eight beds only. The borders are spectacular as they lead one to the heady Rose Gardens. The Gardens Feature Autumn falls and the general Arboretum that has been noted for the various hues of seasonal color. Humans interact with nature through the distant views of the falls. Additionally, there are over 14000 trees that feature in almost the entire Garden. The plantation is iconic for the people since there are almost 2000 species of trees in about a third of the entire Garden. It is through the trees, and other nature such as the autumn falls that humans visiting could understand more about biodiversity and conservation. The interaction is evidenced through the various glasshouses in the Garden or even through the cherry blossoms.

The buildings and plant collections at Kew Botanic Gardens combine in totality to form a region of developments in botanical science and Garden art. The two have been diffused in the globe until recently. The landscape art concept was the idea of the 18th century and utilizes English aspects along with the interests in horticulture, species adaptation, and economic influences. UNESCO notes that relationship was started since Joseph's Banks' authority in about 1770. The landscape architecture has changed with time due to the growth of the levels of botanic activity. Therefore, the previous royal landscapes have been phased out but still influenced the development of the modern Garden. The design concepts are evident through structures such as the iron-framed greenhouses in the region.

The various structures such as the palm and temperate houses have become the areas of conservatories, calling for some world interest. Besides, the 18th century influenced the development of a variety of layers such as the Orangery and the Queen Charlotte's Cottage. Other structures that have encouraged the interaction between agriculture, capital, human, and media circulation comprise the folly temples, boundary, the Rhododendron Dell, the Syon Park House, and ornamental lakes and ponds for aqua-activities. The herbarium and plant collections also contribute to the history of the development of the Gardens from being an area of recreation to being a world-class botanical and horticultural area where a variety of plant species can be collected. Presently, Kew Gardens is still used for conservation ecology.

The richness of the collections at Kew Gardens has related the aspects of previous as well as modern scientific and economic relationships. The exchanges have been evidenced since the development of the Gardens in the 18th century. Besides, the exchanges can be related to the various artistic influences that concern the greater Europe as well as the entire world. UNESCO concludes that the richness of the collections involving almost 50000 plants, among other elements from within such as documents, have complied with the landscape and architectural features of the Gardens. As a result, there has been a close advance and the relationship between botany and ecology. The great landscape technology effected on the Gardens has encouraged the contribution to advanced scientific disciplines that take advantage of the network between agriculture, capital, human, and media circulation.

Kew Gardens has various edifices alongside the Gardens that have been created by reputed artists, including William Kent and Charles Bridgeman, among others. The structures were created with the intention of showing the beginning of movements for a national influence in London. The edifices were structurally made through the 18th-century designs and are evidenced to date as landscape technology has only changed a few features and dimensions. UNESCO connotes integrity in the Gardens as Kew Gardens is also of universal value. The boundaries made within the Garden and along the edifices are significant in landscape art and are supportive of scientific disciplines as well as the relationship between ecological components.

The integrity of the landscape shows the history of the development of the landscaped Gardens as well as Kew's Garden's uncompromised role as the iconic Garden in London. Integrity from within the landscape has ensured that the Gardens continue to be botanically classified as well as a significant center of research. The various elements, including the boundaries of the properties, show an outstanding universal value of the Gardens and have remained intact since the late 18th century. For instance, there is a Buffer Zone that has created a central zone of the Garden vistas. The zone was made to be visible from a significant region at Syon Park House around Thames River. The buffer zone also is also visible from other areas of the Garden, such as the Old Deer Park.

The river connecting to the Isle worth Ferry Gate was also made to be a point of focus where one would view other areas within the Garden. Kew Gardens also maintains integrity through the historic center and the adjacent buildings as well as the church. UNESCO quotes no landscape developments or plans of development outside the Buffer Zone. If there were, the developments could have altered the various features within the region that make the Buffer Zone a visible area from strategic locations. Therefore, landscape considerations, including technology, have not been implemented outside the zone to maintain integrity and make the zone an area of aesthetic appeal.

The landscape of Kew Gardens has proven to be authentic. Since the development of the Gardens in the late 1700s, it is evident that most of the features have remained faithful to serving their functions. The initial purpose has been maintained, and botanists have continued to find specimens over the years. Besides, it has been a long period since botanists have exchanged enterprises globally. The wide collection of materials and specimens has, therefore, been important for the public, especially scholars from around the globe. UNESCO notes that the Gardens have 44 buildings that can be associated with the monuments of the past, and these structures are a reflection of the various stylistic elements of landscaping. Only a few structures have adjusted their functions, such as the Orangery, which now serves as a restaurant in the region. Authenticity has been retained in terms of materials, functions, and the general design; as a result, they have continued to build a network between agriculture, capital, human, and media circulation.

The landscaped Garden regions have been built such that the past, the present, and the future can be connected. The only exception to this is the vestigial Gardens that were created by various artists. The landscape has made it difficult to separate the various artistic achievements of the past on the basis of landscape design throughout the Garden's development. Sometimes workers in the Gardens shape the Nessfield's beds at the Palm House without intentionally revealing early landscape designs, yet they end up drawing the attention of the past art. It is, therefore, evident that the past will always be interconnected with the future for as long as there are upcoming projects intended to maintain the overall landscape.

Kew is a theatre for the exhibition of royal virtue because of the King's interest in economic botany. The aspect is evident to date as botany is the primary interest for the site's visitors. The dignity that was evident previously is evident at present as it has still been authentic to the monarchy. Even though not used lately for purposes other than botanical matters, it was used to furnish useful animals and plants for the farmers at the empire. The landscape design made at that period ensured that agriculture, media, capital, and human circulation is maintained. Presently, the Garden undergoes various protection and management practices to maintain its significance to the people.

UNESCO defends that The Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew and Historic Royal Palaces have been mandated with the task of ensuring protection and management of various properties such as Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte's Cottage, which were a property of the Queen. Protection and management have been left out to the specific area, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Some other areas are externally managed, but that does not change their purposes. Kew Gardens comprise a lot of areas and structures, such that some have been included in the Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act 1990 as UNESCO notes. In the Act, the multiple structures have been associated with historical and architectural interest. In case of adjustments to the landscape, the English Heritage has to be consulted for advice by the local authorities.

Conclusion

Currently, Kew is being protected and conserved at an international level, especially for spectacular areas of interest, including the cataloging species. The Gardens have also supported the various conservation efforts by the world upon them. The Buffer Zone proves to be the most critical area that ought to be conserved. Mos...