An Invitation to the Botanic Gardens

This beautifully produced hardback is successful on many fronts, not least its ability to elucidate the many activities happening at this world-renowned scientific centre.

The first page of the book is a gorgeously illustrated invitation to the reader to, ‘Join us on a VIP tour of the Botanic Garden’ (p.1) which acts as an enticing hook to interest the youngster.

Both author and illustrator are to be congratulated on their respective roles throughout the work: Guillain carefully explains all the workings of the complex organization, helped along by Shoesmith’s attractive illustrations. The Contents page clearly explains where our tour will take us around 17 areas/buildings, beginning with the flower Beds and Borders and exiting through the popular Gift Shop.

I was struck by how we meet many members of the huge team of people working there, and how they carry out quite distinctive roles both front of house and behind the scenes. There are numerous volunteers and horticulture students along with garden designers, scientists, botanists, photographers and botanical artists. It is fascinating to learn some of the facts and information we learn on this tour. For example, the Seed Bank holds more than 2 billion seeds, some of which are extinct.  Also, the labelling of plants in Latin is used world-wide for accuracy.

The three gatefolds illustrating The Temperate House, The Herbarium and The Arboretum (my favourite!) add the wow factor to this outstanding hardback. This is the type of publication which will capture a child’s imagination and frequently result in them deciding to follow a career they had not heard of until now. The text carefully explains how experiments are being carried out to discover which plants are possible to grow in the hotter conditions caused by climate change, thereby creating relevance to current issues.

I look forward to reading An Invitation to the Ballet Theatre in the same series, and I hope my review encourages you to take up An Invitation to the Botanic Gardens, preferably with a young person or Primary class in your care. Not only is this book published in partnership with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, but by buying it the customer is contributing to the important work carried out there every day.