Creating a biophilic Wales: increasing the health and wellbeing of people, biodiversity and the environment

The National Botanic Garden of Wales (NBGW) is dedicated to the research and conservation of biodiversity, sustainability, lifelong learning and the enjoyment of our visitors. NBGW’s Conservation and Research programme includes four major themes: ‘Saving Plants and Fungi’, ‘Saving Pollinators’, ‘International Conservation and Research’ and ‘Science and Society’. This article describes some of NBGW’s activities in three of these core areas, focusing on our work within Wales. 1. Conserving and understanding Welsh plants, fungi and habitats. 2. Conserving pollinating insects and understanding pollinator ecosystem services. 3. Understanding and promoting the importance of plants and gardens for the health and wellbeing of people, wildlife and the environment. NBGW takes a multi-disciplinary approach that involves research, education, engagement, advocacy and direct conservation action. We aim to create a Biophilic Wales by increasing our understanding of the natural world and inspiring people to protect it. Wales is used as a study system to develop models that can applied throughout the world.

Botanic Garden Profile: The National Botanic Garden of Wales at 20

The National Botanic Garden of Wales celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020 with many achievements and challenges for staff, volunteers and stakeholders to reflect upon. An ambitious project since its inception, the Botanic Garden has grown from humble beginnings into an established national institution in its first two decades, with the tireless efforts of many helping it to flourish. Early proponents of the idea did much to foster others’ support, and what started as a vision shared between a small group of enthusiasts became a Millennium Commission funded project in 1996. Since opening to the public in 2000, much work has been done to create the gardens, infrastructure and teams necessary to pursue the Botanic Garden’s mission. In a climate of increasing biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, science, horticulture and education programmes have been developed which continue to make tangible contributions the study, conservation and interpretation of plant diversity in Wales and beyond. With 568 acres (230 ha) to develop further still and world-class facilities such as the Great Glasshouse, the Botanic Garden aims to play an important role in research, conservation, education and public engagement for many years to come.

Future directions.

In this chapter the future of garden tourism is examined. Botanic gardens have multiple roles but principally education, environmental, and recreation, and it is under these three roles that garden tourism's future is evaluated. Case studies are presented of (1) the National Botanic Garden of Wales as a floral resource for pollinating insects; and (2) the high school botany teaching program of the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida, USA.

A new Eumerus hoverfly (Diptera: Syrphidae) from Namibia and South Africa, with notes on similar species

Within the pollinator family Syrphidae, Eumerus Meigen, 1822 is a diverse genus with over 70 species recorded in the Afrotropical Region. A new species is described here from Namibia and South Africa. Adults are small to medium size flies, with spur-like expansions in the metatarsomeres 2 and 3. DNA sequences of the Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were obtained from Namibian specimens. This is only the second Eumerus species documented from Namibia, where it was recorded from The National Botanic Garden, Windhoek. The new species is compared with similar species such as Eumerus vestitus Bezzi, 1912, for which a lectotype is designated. In addition, a new and preliminary morphological concept of the Eumerus obliquus group is proposed and a key to its African species is provided.

Rhythm of seasonal development of woody vines of the Vitaceae Juss. family in the conditions of introduction in the Right-bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine

To investigate the phenorhythmics of introduced woody vines of the family Vitaceae of the genus Ampelopsis Michx. and Parthenocissus Planch., to determine the possibilities of their use in cultural phytocenoses of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Phenological observations were conducted during 2012–2014. Plants of the investigated taxa belong to the collection fund of the exposition-collection area “Climbing plants” of the M. M. Hryshko National Botanic Garden of the NAS of Ukraine. The distribution by phenogroups of the investigated plants and the construction of the phenospectrum of seasonal development were performed using appropriate methods. Results.The end of the vegetation of the representatives of the genus Parthenocissus occurred before the end of the growing season 16.X ±6,13 (P. inserta)–23.X ±7,41(P. tricuspidata Veitchii’), and in plants of the genus Ampelopsis coincided with this date 4.XI ±7,36 (A. aconitifolia f. glabra)–13.XI ±7,85(A. brevipedunculata). Flowering of the representatives of the genus Parthenocissus lasted 22,3 ±4,1 (P. tricuspidata Veitchii’)–81,7±2,1 (P. quinquefolia f. engelmannii) days, and plants of the genus Ampelopsis – 98,3±7,7 (A. aconitifolia)–107,0 ±7,3 (A. brevipedunculata) days. The period from tying to ripening of fruits in representatives of the genus Parthenocissus was 47,0 ±5,66 (P. quinquefolia)–59,0 ±3,74 (P. tricuspidata Veitchii’) days, and plants of the genus Ampelopsis – 35,7 ±3,77 (A. aconitifolia f. glabra)–41,3±5,79 (A. brevipedunculata) days. Conclusions. It was found that members of the genus Parthenocissus are characterized by timely entry into the period of winter dormancy, shorter flowering period and longer fruit ripening compared with plants of the genus Ampelopsis. Given the native areals of plants of the studied species, which cover dry with low rainfall and cold wet regions, we can conclude that they are all characterized by high plasticity and resistance to environmental conditions, as phenological observations noted their annual flowering and fruiting. This indicates a high degree of compliance of their genetically fixed phenorhythmics with the climatic conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.

In memoriam : Paul Bamps (1932–2019)

In memoriam: Paul Bamps (1932–2019) Paul Bamps (1932–2019), former head of the Vascular Plants Department at the National Botanic Garden of Belgium, passed away last year at the age of 87. A survey is presented here of his distinguished scientific career – started in the 1950s in the Congo and continued within the Botanic Garden from the 1960s onwards – and of his outstanding contribution to African botany. Twenty-six species and one genus of plants have been named in his honour. A list of his scientific publications is presented in appendix, as well as a list of taxa and combinations which he published and a list of taxa named after him. Paul Bamps (1932–2019), ancien chef du département des plantes vasculaires au Jardin botanique national de Belgique, est décédé l’année dernière à l’âge de 87 ans. Nous présentons ici un aperçu de son éminente carrière scientifique – commencée dans les années 1950 au Congo et poursuivie au sein du Jardin botanique à partir des années 1960 – et de sa contribution exceptionnelle à la botanique africaine. Vingt-six espèces et un genre de plantes ont été nommés en son honneur. Une liste de ses publications scientifiques est présentée en annexe, ainsi qu’une liste des taxons et combinaisons qu’il a publiés et une liste des taxons portant son nom.

Assessment of genetic resources of medicinal plants collection of M.M. Gryshko National Botanic Garden of the NAS of Ukraine

Aim. The purpose of the work was to analyze the collection fund of medicinal plants of the Medical Botany laboratory at M.M. Gryshko National Botanic Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Methods. We used the methods of information analysis and synthesis and computer methods of information database processing. Results. The stages of collection formation, created by attracting seed and planting material from the natural flora of Ukraine and by exchange with the botanical gardens of Ukraine and the world are shown. Selection of the source material was carried out taking into account the introduction methods of genus complexes and climatic analogues. The carried out analysis of the taxonomic composition was represented by species belonging to 62 families. The collection has 388 species, including 385 flowering plants, 2 gymnosperms, 1 fern. Among them there are: 280 perennials, 52 biennials, 53 annuals. The introduced plants make up the significant percentage of the collections. Considerable attention is paid to the preservation of the collection fund valuable varieties. The rare and endangered medicinal plant species cultivated and conserving in the collection. Conclusions. The collection of the Medical Botany laboratory is a valuable gene pool of medicinal plants, including rare and endangered listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine; material is not only for scientific research, but it is also is a base of scientific and educational activities for students, post-graduate students and schoolchildren. Keywords: genetic resources, collection fund, medicinal plants, introduced plants, rare plants.

The National Botanic Garden of Nepal

The National Botanic Garden of Nepal (NBG) lies 16km south of Kathmandu, at the base of Phulchowki, the highest mountain in the Kathmandu Valley. It was inaugurated in 1962 by King Mahendra and since that time the collections have developed, many of them into named areas and groupings. The year 2016 was the bicentenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Great Britain, and this was marked in the NBG with the development of a Biodiversity Education Garden. This was created in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), and the occasion signified a revitalisation of collaborative relations between the NBG and British botanic gardens which started in the early 1960s with the appointment to NBG of British horticulturists Geoffrey Herklots and, later, Tony Schilling. The history of the garden, its layout and collections, and the activities and outcomes of the recent collaborations are described and illustrated with colour photographs.