KGG Visit to Kew Gardens
Sunday, 4th November 2007

Adrian with the members of the KGG party, and friends from the Natural History Museum (NHM), at Kew
Adrian with the members of the KGG party, and friends from the Natural History Museum (NHM), at Kew
 

One particular interest of our Chairman, Dr Adrian Rundle, is the study of the relationship between fossils and their living counterparts. The value of such a study was clearly demonstrated in one of Adrian's recent Microfossil Workshops, using samples collected from a pond in Richmond Park. There can surely be no better way to appreciate the beauty of a fossil Ostracod than to watch, through a microscope, a live specimen swimming in a Petri dish.



Adrian lives within comfortable walking distance of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and has been able to pass on some of his enthusiasm for the fossil/current comparison by leading guided walks in Kew Gardens to study some living specimens of very early plant types.

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On Sunday 4th November 2007 Adrian led a group of about a dozen (KGG members and friends from NHM) on an informal visit to the gardens. The group met at the Victoria Gate entrance at 11.00 a.m. The aim of the visit, apart from having an enjoyable day out in beautiful surroundings, was to look at trees. The group looked at modern descendants of some of the earliest species and how trees adapt to particular environments. As always, Adrian was a 'walking encyclopaedia' giving countless facts on trees, fruits, leaves and seeds.

The tour took in the Marianne North Gallery of botanical paintings, the Pagoda Vista, the Evolution House, the Temperate House and the Princess of Wales Conservatory, where a particular interest was the giant catfish in the pond near the carnivorous plants section. The group also saw specimens of Ginkgo biloba. Fossil remains of this species, dating from the Jurassic, have been found on the Yorkshire coast.

Kew Gardens is not only one of the finest botanical gardens in the world but, in keeping with its designation as a 'World Heritage Site', it also puts on regular themed displays for the public's entertainment. This autumn the theme was Henry Moore and a large number of his sculptures were placed around the garden; an ideal setting for them. As Adrian likes several of Henry Moore's sculptures, the display was an interesting adjunct to the botanical tour.

The autumn colours were close to their best, the weather was perfect and the everchanging setting at Kew always has new surprises. So, if you would like to join the next Kew visit, watch for details on the 'Field Programme' page of this website.

The pictures below were taken by Diana Franks.

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Adrian and Ann Harrison, with Angela Nazzani on the gallery of the Temperate House Adrian with members of the KGG party in the Princess of Wales Conservatory
Adrian and Ann Harrison, with Angela Nazzani on the gallery of the Temperate House
 
Adrian with members of the KGG party in the Princess of Wales Conservatory
 
A Ginkgo biloba outside the Evolution House A tree fern
A Ginkgo biloba outside the Evolution House
 
A tree fern
 
Henry Moore's 'Draped Reclining Mother and Baby',1983, beside the Broadwalk Henry Moore's 'Double Oval', 1966, in front of The Orangery
Henry Moore's "Draped Reclining Mother and Baby",1983, beside the Broadwalk
 
Henry Moore's "Double Oval", 1966, in front of The Orangery
 

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