British Museum and Kew Gardens
Garden Shows Links Between China's Natural Habitat and its Culture
The Royal Botanic Gardens and the British Museum have combined their expertise to create a most unusual scented landscape garden on the forecourt of the British Museum.
The British Museum has provided the location and curatorial expertise and experts from the Royal Botanic Gardens, known as Kew Gardens, have provided the plants and design for China in the Heart of London, one of London's most unusual summer exhibitions.
Both the British Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens have strong links with China with scientists at Kew working closely with their counter parts at the new Chinese seed bank in Yunnan province. The British Museum has entered into several agreements with Chinese museums and these have created opportunities for reciprocal touring exhibitions and loans.
The British Museum and RGB share common ideals. When the British Museum was established its guiding policy was based on the Enlightenment belief that despite their differences all human culture would come to understand each other through mutual engagement. The Royal Botanic Garden's guiding principle is to support worldwide biodiversity conservation and to encourage cultural understanding and these shared ideals have influenced this unusual garden.
China in the Heart of London
In a garden heavy with the fragrance of wisteria this year's summer show explores the links between China's culture and natural habitat through flowers, shrubs and trees used in food and drink medicines, clothing and building materials.
One of the garden's highlights is a sample of Ginkgo Biloba, the Maidenhair tree. This is a specimen from an ancient group of plants believed to have existed 180-200 million years ago. The plant is a common ingredient in medicines used to treat asthma and chronic coughs. Extracts prepared from the leaves are used to treat circulatory problems and memory loss.
Another highlight is an example of the historic handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata) originally found in Yunnan province. The plant has been cultivated as an ornamental tree but in the wild it is under threat of extinction and classified as rare.
Visitors will discover how these plants grow and their position in China's culture and economy. For example, Bamboo grows rapidly and when treated is lightweight and very strong. It is used to produce anything from chopsticks to musical instruments. Indeed, almost every part of the plant has a use. Sap becomes sweet wine, leaves become food wrappers and fibres become paper, fabric and medicine. Its strength also makes it very useful in the construction industry with bridges and houses also being made from bamboo. The Chinese regard bamboo as a symbol of integrity and character because although it may bend in the wind it will not snap!
Scholar's Garden
China's "scholar's gardens" are designed for quiet contemplation or social gatherings. The scholar's rock is a typical feature representing the power of a mountain. China in the Heart of London will feature a scholar's rock and a rock inscribed with a poem.
Rock Sculpture by Zhan Wang
A giant rock sculpture by Zhan Wang, one of China's most respected artists, will be displayed in the Great Court and this, together with the Museum's fascinating Chinese collection, compliments a visit to the garden.
The display can be viewed from 3rd May to 26 October 2008 and additional information can be obtained from the British Museum or Royal Botanic Gardens.
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