Ascension : My Visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew By Natasha Williams
Submitted by The Islander (Conservation Office) 24.06.2010 (Article Archived on 15.07.2010)
During the period of 7th June to 11th June, I visited the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London along with Conservation Officer Stedson Stroud and Horticultural Project Officer Matti Niissalo.
During the period of 7th June to 11th June, I visited the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London along with Conservation Officer Stedson Stroud and Horticultural Project Officer Matti Niissalo. We all went to deliver presentations about Ascension Conservation aspects of the AEIOU GIS (Ascension Environmental Information Operations Utility, Geographical Information System) and the Endemic Plant Horticultural Project. This OTEP (Overseas Territories Environment Programme) funded Project has reached the final stages and RBG Kew have been providing support throughout, as our project partners. The trip was part of the initial project plan and all expenses were covered by the project funding.
  
During the time at Kew, as well as giving the presentation, I also did some training with various staff. This included how to collect seeds and sow them; other propagation techniques such as micropropagation; a study of the Ascension endemics growing at Kew, the different types of ferns and how to store plants when drying them.
I attended training in the micro-propagation section with Sarasan Viswambharan and Katie Baker, we looked at plant specimens, the methods used when transferring plants for germination and how to store them. I practiced transferring plant specimens into jars and we studied the Ascension endemics growing in the micropropagation unit.
Training was given in the Nurseries with James Beattie and Nick Johnson. With James we looked at how to collect seeds, when to collect, how to dry and pot them. With Nick I took cuttings and leant how to propagate using this method. To finish off Nigel Rothwell demonstrated the different fern spores, how they are collected and transferred to a pot. It was very interesting to learn the various propagation methods that are used for different types of plant species.
 
We also looked at the on line herbarium which gives information on the specimens stored at RBG Kew. The information provided includes where they were found, collected and what family the species belongs to. This was demonstrated by Sara Barrios, who is the UKOTs (UK Overseas Territories) GSPC (Global Strategy for Plant Conservation) Implementation Officer. The on line herbarium has not yet been launched, however, we were able to look at the data that has been loaded already. The project will bring together the conservation expertise and botanical resources of the RBG, Kew and other worldwide Herbaria, as well as those of governmental and non-governmental organizations within the UKOTs. Kew's UKOTs Programme is currently collating plant species information to produce a preliminary checklist of UKOTs plant species.
Stedson and I, along with Matti, had an opportunity to see the Burchill book, which contains very good detailed pictures from St Helena. As I was born and brought up on Ascension I was interested in learning a lot about St Helena’s history. I was also given the opportunity to look at herbarium specimens of Ascension’s flora. These are stored in the RBG Kew’s herbarium, which is one of the biggest in the world.
 
For our presentation there was a very good turn out. It was an excellent experience for me, my first time presenting the Ascension GIS to such a wide audience, such as representatives from the FCO, Kew staff, volunteers, St Helenian and British visitors, friends and family.
The time spent at the RBG Kew was a great experience and I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to do this. I would like to thank everyone who made this trip possible and such a memorable one.
By Natasha Williams
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