Dear BCAS Members

BRITISH COUNCIL ASSOCIATION EVENTS AND OUTINGS 2014

Dear BCA Members, a visit has been arranged for Tuesday July 22nd 2014 at 11.00am to the Kew Gardens Herbarium

Kew Gardens Herbarium. The Kew Herbarium is a listed building first used as the location of Kew Gardens' growing collection of dried plants in 1853, and is still used today. In 1877 a new wing was built with open galleries to provide sunlight, which is now the centre-piece of the collection. The collections include the personal herbaria of some of Britain's most celebrated scientists and explorers of the past. Charles Darwin, Joseph Hooker, David Livingstone, John Hanning Speke, Richard Spruce, Ernest 'Chinese' Wilson and Miles Joseph Berkeley are just a few of the famous names whose collections can still be studied in the Herbarium. There are 7 million specimens, and some 35,000 are added each year. The new wing, built some 10 years ago, contains a library of plant works, with some always on display. More details of the Herbarium are on the Kew gardens website.

Arrangements. We will meet outside the Herbarium at 10.45 in time for a 11.00 start to the tour, which will take about an hour. The Herbarium is outside and just beside the Elizabeth Gate of Kew gardens. You do not need to enter Kew gardens to get to it. Our guide will be provided by the Herbarium. The herbarium would be happy to arrange for specimens to be prepared for viewing for anyone's particular interest in type of plant, region of interest, or collector of interest. Please note your particular interest on the acceptance form. You may wish to enter the gardens after the tour for lunch and a visit (concessions £12) Friends of Kew can get in free and bring in a free guest. Please let us know if you are a member, and if you wish to enter after the tour. We will work out how many need to pay and attempt to negotiate a group discount.

Cost. The cost is £7 per person.

Transport and directions. The Herbarium is next to and just outside the Elizabeth Gate of Kew Gardens. This gate opens onto Kew Green, and is not to be confused with the Victoria Gate, which is close to Kew Gardens Tube, and through which most visitors enter the gardens. To get to the Elizabeth Gate from Kew Gardens Tube Station, about 15 minutes walking, follow the signs to Kew Garden which will take you to the Victoria Gate. Turn right when you reach the Victoria Gate, and walk all round the Kew gardens wall to Kew Green, and then turn left, keeping the gardens on your left, until you reach the Elizabeth gate. Car Parking for the gardens is available nearby, and this gate can also be reached easily from Kew Bridge station.

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I/ We confirm that I/we would like to take part in the visit to the Kew Gardens Herbarium

Name(s)…………………………………………………………………………………….

Cheque payable to BCA £7.00 per person

I enclose a cheque for ………………………………...… .

I have a particular interest in …………………………………………………………….

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Your contact details - postal / phone / email (preferred)