Dirt on our hands: Overcoming botany’s hidden legacy of inequality 

In this special episode of Unearthed, professional plant geek, author, and broadcaster James Wong explores the histories of inequality and personal experiences that lie behind a seemingly democratic and wholesome world of plants. 

From the colonial history of plant collections and our perceptions of what form a ‘traditional’ garden should take, to accessing education, careers, and green spaces themselves, our relationship with nature is not without its barriers, some of which are still to be overcome.

Joined by a panel of contributors, James debates what could be done to make the garden, and all that comes with it, open to all.

Historians, practitioners, plant scientists and horticulturalists share their observations and knowledge on how the past and present are complicated by racial inequality, legacy of empire and an exploitation of land and people.

In turn, RBG Kew is committed to revealing and restoring a story that has not often been told, and making its spaces more welcoming and reflective for the communities that are represented in the collections.  

This episode features: 

Advolly Richmond – a garden landscape and social historian and BBC Gardener’s World presenter. 

Richard Choksey – a graduate of Kew’s diploma in botanical horticulture and landscape gardener who is currently studying for a Masters in global history. 

Renee Cawthorne – Manager of First Nations Education and Engagement at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. 

Kew botanist Sophie Richards leads an open conversation with Kew’s Director Richard Deverell on the path ahead.  

And Tayshan Hayden-Smith tells James how his community gardening initiative created a vital place for connection in a West London housing estate, in the wake of Grenfell.  

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Grow2Know is empowering more diverse communities through horticulture http://www.grow2know.org.uk

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

Richard Choksey https://richardchoksey.wixsite.com/variationsoneden

Advolly Richmond https://advolly.co.uk

Find out more about the work Kew is doing at https://www.kew.org

 

Dirt on our hands: Overcoming botany&rsquo;s hidden legacy of inequality&nbsp;
In this special episode of Unearthed, professional plant geek, author, and broadcaster James Wong explores the histories of inequality and personal experiences that lie behind a seemingly democratic and wholesome world of plants.&nbsp;
From the colonial history of plant collections and our perceptions of what form a &lsquo;traditional&rsquo; garden should take, to accessing education, careers, and green spaces themselves, our relationship with nature is not without its barriers, some of which are still to be overcome.
Joined by a panel of contributors, James debates what could be done to make the garden, and all that comes with it, open to all.
Historians, practitioners, plant scientists and horticulturalists share their observations and knowledge on how the past and present are complicated by racial inequality, legacy of empire and an exploitation of land and people.
In turn, RBG Kew is committed to revealing and restoring a story that has not often been told, and making its spaces more welcoming and reflective for the communities that are represented in the collections. &nbsp;
This episode features:&nbsp;
Advolly Richmond &ndash; a garden landscape and social historian and BBC Gardener&rsquo;s World presenter.&nbsp;
Richard Choksey &ndash; a graduate of Kew&rsquo;s diploma in botanical horticulture and landscape gardener who is currently studying for a Masters in global history.&nbsp;
Renee Cawthorne &ndash; Manager of First Nations Education and Engagement at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.&nbsp;
Kew botanist Sophie Richards leads an open conversation with Kew&rsquo;s Director Richard Deverell on the path ahead. &nbsp;
And Tayshan Hayden-Smith tells James how his community gardening initiative created a vital place for connection in a West London housing estate, in the wake of Grenfell.&nbsp;&nbsp;
LINKS OF INTEREST:
Grow2Know is empowering more diverse communities through horticulture <a href="http://www.grow2know.org.uk/">http://www.grow2know.org.uk</a>
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney <a href="https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/">https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au</a>
Richard Choksey <a href="https://richardchoksey.wixsite.com/variationsoneden">https://richardchoksey.wixsite.com/variationsoneden</a>
Advolly Richmond <a href="https://advolly.co.uk/">https://advolly.co.uk</a>
Find out more about the work Kew is doing at <a href="https://www.kew.org/">https://www.kew.org</a>
&nbsp;

Wildlife is becoming extinct at an alarming rate and habitats are under strain. What can nature itself teach us about how to heal our planet and support biodiversity?

In Unearthed, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew invites you to explore how plant and fungal knowledge can be harnessed to change our world for the better.

Series 3 “Unearthed: Nature needs us”, takes us on a journey from soil to sky, scaling the tangle of nature’s systems and interactions to help us tackle the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Dr Mya-Rose Craig (AKA “Birdgirl”) hears from Kew experts, as well as communities and organisations across the world who are combining learnings in science, wildlife, conservation and restoration to work within the bounds of nature and help halt the devastating impacts of unsustainable human activity.

From farming practises and food production to land use, pollinators, traditional techniques, tech and forestry to tackling poverty and inequality through environmental policy, join us as we untangle the secrets of nature and seek solutions to our world’s problems.

Subscribe to all episodes and catch up on earlier series of Unearthed from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on this feed.

Wildlife is becoming extinct at an alarming rate and habitats are under strain. What can nature itself teach us about how to heal our planet and support biodiversity?
In Unearthed, the Royal <a href="https://www.kew.org/">Botanic Gardens Kew</a> invites you to explore how plant and fungal knowledge can be harnessed to change our world for the better.
Series 3 “Unearthed: Nature needs us”, takes us on a journey from soil to sky, scaling the tangle of nature’s systems and interactions to help us tackle the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.
<a href="https://www.birdgirluk.com/">Dr Mya-Rose Craig</a> (AKA “Birdgirl”) hears from Kew experts, as well as communities and organisations across the world who are combining learnings in science, wildlife, conservation and restoration to work within the bounds of nature and help halt the devastating impacts of unsustainable human activity.
From farming practises and food production to land use, pollinators, traditional techniques, tech and forestry to tackling poverty and inequality through environmental policy, join us as we untangle the secrets of nature and seek solutions to our world’s problems.
Subscribe to all episodes and catch up on earlier series of Unearthed from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on this feed.

Unearthed - Nature needs us

Wildlife is becoming extinct at an alarming rate and habitats are under strain. What can nature itself teach us about how to heal our planet and support biodiversity?

In Unearthed, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew invites you to explore how plant and fungal knowledge can be harnessed to change our world for the better.

Series 3 “Unearthed: Nature needs us”, takes us on a journey from soil to sky, scaling the tangle of nature’s systems and interactions to help us tackle the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Dr Mya-Rose Craig (AKA “Birdgirl”) hears from Kew experts, as well as communities and organisations across the world who are combining learnings in science, wildlife, conservation and restoration to work within the bounds of nature and help halt the devastating impacts of unsustainable human activity.

From farming practises and food production to land use, pollinators, traditional techniques, tech and forestry to tackling poverty and inequality through environmental policy, join us as we untangle the secrets of nature and seek solutions to our world’s problems.

Subscribe to all episodes and catch up on earlier series of Unearthed from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on this feed.

Wildlife is becoming extinct at an alarming rate and habitats are under strain. What can nature itself teach us about how to heal our planet and support biodiversity?
In Unearthed, the Royal <a href="https://www.kew.org/">Botanic Gardens, Kew</a> invites you to explore how plant and fungal knowledge can be harnessed to change our world for the better.
Series 3 “Unearthed: Nature needs us”, takes us on a journey from soil to sky, scaling the tangle of nature’s systems and interactions to help us tackle the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.
<a href="https://www.birdgirluk.com/">Dr Mya-Rose Craig</a> (AKA “Birdgirl”) hears from Kew experts, as well as communities and organisations across the world who are combining learnings in science, wildlife, conservation and restoration to work within the bounds of nature and help halt the devastating impacts of unsustainable human activity.
From farming practises and food production to land use, pollinators, traditional techniques, tech and forestry to tackling poverty and inequality through environmental policy, join us as we untangle the secrets of nature and seek solutions to our world’s problems.
Subscribe to all episodes and catch up on earlier series of Unearthed from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on this feed.

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