On 20th and 21st April, part of the team from Jardí Botànic Marimurtra visited the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, one of the most influential botanical institutions in the world. A garden with over 250 years of history, home to the Millennium Seed Bank and a global reference in plant conservation and scientific outreach. A visit we had been very much looking forward to.
The visit was an immersion in the inner workings of Kew: from the Tropical Nursery and the protocols for managing living collections, to the way it approaches interpretation, communication, education and volunteering. We were able to access spaces that are usually hidden from visitors and gain an understanding of all the rigour and dedication behind every plant, every label, every activity. We discovered inspiring models — such as the Grow Wild education programme, aimed at children and young people from local communities, or their educational and outreach activities — and held meetings with very diverse teams: communications, interpretation, public engagement and community programmes. A truly enriching exchange of knowledge.
A few weeks later, on 7 May, it was Kew’s turn to visit Marimurtra. Dr Jan Sala, Research Associate at the Millennium Seed Bank, and Arnau Ribera, Living Collections Support Officer, came to Marimurtra to see our work first-hand. We came away with many ideas and lessons learned. And also the certainty that, despite our very different contexts, we share the same dedication and the same purpose: to work for the conservation and promotion of the plant world.
These two exchanges mark the beginning of a relationship we hope will grow. Because biodiversity conservation is a collective endeavour, and building bridges between botanic gardens is one of the best ways to make it happen.
