Latest news with #Gardens
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
‘I'm an expert gardener – Kew is a world-class attraction, but here's what it needs to change'
Kew Gardens, near London 's Richmond Park, is iconic. And its most emblematic feature is the Palm House, which will be closing from 2027 for a five-year refurbishment – part of an ambitious bid by the Gardens to become climate positive by 2030. The Palm House is the world's largest surviving Victorian glasshouse and a symbol of the gardens' innovative history. But the £50m project, that will include temporarily rehoming around 1,300 plants, is sorely needed. It's difficult to say which is more impressive: the grandiose glasshouse, with its whimsical spiral staircases, or the plants for which it was built. Encountering the glasshouse is rather like wandering through a rainforest and happening upon a crumbling historical monument, the white iron striking against lush greenery. However, while the plants have thrived in the balmy temperatures within, the Palm House has not. The rust and corrosion is a result of the same conditions that keep the plants so healthy, and it's hard to ignore. As part of the makeover, the Grade I-listed building will have each of its 16,000 panes of glass replaced, while the frame will repainted in the exact shade used when it first opened to the public in 1848. Perhaps this decay is symbolic of Kew's place in British culture: at once enrapturing and frustrating. In its current iteration, Kew is certainly impressive, and is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the capital. But in order to retain its title of a world-class attraction, Kew needs to continue to innovate. A mecca for botanists Happily, there is plenty for the budding gardener to enjoy at present. The Gardens remain a mecca for botanists, home to numerous plants that are now considered extinct in the wild and many more that are critically endangered. Alongside the Chelsea Flower Show, it remains one of the best places for a green-fingered day out – it is easily one of the best things to do with children during the summer holidays. And while London is full of exciting places to visit, Kew Gardens stands out as one of only four places in the city designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is a living monument to centuries of changing fashions and fancies, told through exquisite horticulture. As an ecologist, you only need to say the words 'rare plant' to me, and I'll be there. But if this sounds too academic, fear not. Kew has a lot more to offer than just its plant collections. Younger visitors have long delighted in splashing and climbing their way through the Children's Garden, while the wheelchair-accessible Treetop Walkway takes visitors high up into the canopy. Guests who are happier keeping their feet on the ground can find numerous walking trails throughout the site (plus picturesque picnic spots). With over 300 acres to explore, it's easy to forget you are still in London, just a stones' throw from the hustle and bustle of Kensington. It's equipped with numerous greenhouses, cafes, restaurants, a library and a gallery, meaning there is plenty to keep you occupied on a rainy day. Cacti and waterlilies One of my favourite things to do while exploring Kew is to visit the Princess of Wales Conservatory. Within, guests can wander through ten different climatic areas, from a wet tropical zone to an arid desert, complete with prickly cacti. The conservatory is also home to a fabulous species of giant waterlily, Victoria boliviana, whose huge pads float like boats on the pond. These are particularly special as the variety was discovered at Kew itself. Visitors used to be able to spot the glasshouse's very own pest control unit here, comprising a burly group of water dragons. These striking lizards were a delight to watch, lazing around or skittering between plants, taking their role of bug patrol very seriously. Sadly, the creatures are no longer resident in the spot – but wildlife, especially butterflies and bees, are in abundance. What Kew needs to do With the refurbishment, Kew is recommitting itself to preserving biodiversity and becoming more sustainable. Still, there's more the Gardens could be doing. I'd love to see more information around the gardens about Kew's global research projects – from seed banks in the Alps to plant conservation in Angola. The Eden Project, in Cornwall, is particularly good at signposting its work in this department, and Kew could learn something here. With approximately 2.45 million visitors a year, Kew's potential for educating the public is vast and I believe this could be better expressed. I'd love to see more interactive displays teaching visitors about environmental issues, or simply more information about how to make their own gardens a force for good in the world. Visiting Kew Gardens is a remarkable, transformative excursion: a chance to explore the world's landscapes for a fraction of the cost of a plane ticket. Once completed, the restoration of the Palm House will be a powerful symbol of a changing British institution. What began as a collection of flowers has now become a frontline in the battle against climate change. The changes to the glasshouse are a clear message that we can create a better environmental future, while continuing to preserve our heritage.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Medallions with Singapore Botanic Gardens' iconic landmarks launched to mark milestone-filled year
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Each medallion, available in both gold and silver, commemorates one of its landmark anniversaries. SINGAPORE - Collectors can now get their hands on three intricately designed commemorative medallions marking several key milestones in 2025 for the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Launched by the Singapore Mint as part of a special collaboration with the Gardens, the medallions feature its three iconic landmarks - the Bandstand, the Singapore Herbarium, and the Burkin Hall at the National Orchid Garden. Each medallion, available in both gold and silver, commemorates one of its landmark anniversaries, the National Parks Board said in a statement. These are the 10th anniversary of Gardens' inception as a Unesco World Heritage Site, the 30th anniversary of the National Orchid Garden, and the 150th anniversary of the Singapore Herbarium and Library of Botany and Horticulture. The medallions are sold individually and in three-in-one collector sets, and can be purchased at all Singapore Mint retail outlets and on . Light shows, performances and other festivities For the first time, visitors can enjoy a nightly light show at the Gardens and watch the Swan Lake and Tanglin Gate bathed in multi-coloured light. The light show will take place between 7.30pm and 10pm, from July 19 to Aug 10. It will be complemented by light installations at the Bandstand, Clock Tower at Orchid Plaza, and Palm Court near Nassim Visitor Services Centre. Light shows will take place daily at two locations in the Gardens - Swan Lake and Tanglin Gate. PHOTO: NATIONAL PARKS BOARD The light-up is part of the 10th edition of the Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Festival held from July 19 to 27 and featuring over 40 free activities for visitors. Other festival highlights include musical performances, outdoor movie screenings, guided tours and hands-on workshops. Visitors can step into the shoes of scientists, with a workshop allowing them to conduct practical laboratory tasks, such as DNA extraction using bananas and cell staining with onion roots. This allows them to take a glimpse into the plant conservation work that happens behind the scenes in the Gardens. The Gardens has also released the second edition of Gardens of Perpetual Summer, a publication that traces its history and legacy since its establishment in 1859. The first edition was published in 2009 to mark its 150th anniversary. The book can be purchased at the Gardens Shop and online . The annual orchid show This year marks the 30th anniversary of the National Orchid Garden, which will play host to the Singapore Garden Festival (SGF) Orchid Show from July 19 to 27. The show will feature an orchid competition with 75 categories. PHOTO: NATIONAL PARKS BOARD The show, organised by NParks and the Orchid Society of South-east Asia (OSSEA), will feature an orchid competition with 75 categories. The public can view all competition entries, including the winning orchids across all categories, at Burkill Hall and Tropical Montane Orchidetum at the National Orchid Garden. Singapore residents can enjoy free entry during the Orchid Show and go on free guided tours, which are available daily.
The Independent
09-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Crowds flock to see rare corpse flower bloom
A rare corpse flower, also known as the titan arum, has begun blooming in California at the Gardens Golden Gate Park. When in full bloom, the endangered flower emits a pungent odour comparable to rotten flesh. This distinctive bloom only lasts for two days and occurs just once every three to five years. Native to Sumatra, Indonesia, the Titan Arum can grow up to 10ft tall. Watch the video in full above.
The Independent
09-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Rare notoriously stinky flower begins blooming in California
A rare flower that is known for its distinctive foul smell has begun blooming in California. Footage shows the corpse flower, also known as the Titan Arum, in bloom at the Gardens Golden Gate Park on Tuesday (8 July). The flower omits the pungent odor that is comparable to rotten flesh when it is in full bloom, which only lasts for two days and only happens once every three to five years. The endangered corpse flowers are native to Sumatra, Indonesia and can grow up to 10ft tall.
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
MSCI South Africa Green Annual Property Index 2024
The MSCI South Africa Green Annual Property Index for 2024 continued to reinforce the investment rationale for sustainable, resource-efficient real estate. Longkloof - Growthpoint Properties owned, 4-Star Green Star Existing Building Performance v1 rated, Prime, A-Grade offices in Gardens, Cape Town. Published annually since 2016 in collaboration with the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) and sponsored by Growthpoint Properties (JSE: GRT), the index offers an independent and globally aligned assessment of how green-certified properties compare to their non-certified counterparts in terms of investment performance. For 2024, the index showed that green-certified Prime & A-grade offices produced a total return of 10.1% which was 120bps above that of non-certified office assets of a similar quality during the year. Since the index's launch in 2016, green-certified offices have outperformed non-certified assets by a cumulative 28.2%, delivering superior capital growth and operational resilience. Timothy Irvine, head of asset management: offices at Growthpoint Properties Lisa Reynolds, CEO at Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) Timothy Irvine, head of asset management: offices at Growthpoint, which is at the forefront of green-building certification in South Africa, comments, ' The 2024 MSCI South Africa Green Annual Property Index reaffirms the investment edge of green-certified commercial real estate. The long-term outperformance of green-certified offices signals growing occupier and investor preference for sustainable, resource-efficient real estate and reinforces the strategic competitiveness of portfolios with a strong green building footprint. ' Published in April 2025, the 2024 index covered a sample of 242 prime and A-grade office properties with a combined value of R54.7bn, including 122 green-certified buildings. Reflecting the growing momentum of green certification beyond the office sector, the index also captured the performance of 33 green-certified retail properties. ' The index has shown over several years that green-certified offices typically have better investment returns than non-certified offices. This year's expansion to include the retail sector is exciting for us and reflects our commitment to supporting the drive for green across all building typologies. Through this expansion, we're looking forward to tracking these results, and bringing new insights to market, ' says Georgina Smit, head of technical, GBCSA. Georgina Smit, Head of Technical at Green Building Council South Africa (GBCSA) Eileen Andrew, Vice President of EMEA Real Estate Client Coverage, at MSCI South Africa 2024 was another year of outperformance for green-certified property This outperformance of green-certified Prime and A-grade offices was driven by a higher capital growth on the back of a 34% higher gross income per square meter, a significantly lower operating cost to income ratio (39% vs 46%) and a 30bp lower capitalisation rate. For green-certified retail property, the outperformance was similar in 2024. Green certified retail property delivered a total return of 13.2%, 130bps higher than that of non-certified retail with the outperformance driven by an 80bp lower capitalisation rate and a 18% higher net operating income per square meter. Similar to the green office sample, certified retail properties also boasted a lower cost-to-income ratio of 41% compared to the 44% of its non-certified peers. Green-certified offices also had a lower discount rate, driven in part by a lower vacancy rate (11.1% vs 14.8% for non-green certified prime and A-grade offices) – reinforcing the premium placed on green office accommodation by occupiers and valuers alike. Long-term outperformance Since the index's inception in 2016, prime and A-grade green-certified offices have consistently delivered stronger capital growth than non-certified office properties each year, underscoring the resilience and value proposition of sustainable buildings. Green-certified office assets have outperformed their-noncertified counterparts by a cumulative 28.2%. While the office sector has led the way in the adoption of green certification, the performance advantage is becoming increasingly evident in the retail segment as well, where a similar return differential emerged in 2024, signalling broader market recognition of the investment benefits of sustainable real estate, ' After nine years of consistent outperformance both on valuations and income, there can be no doubt about the fact that certified properties deliver higher returns to investors. The next step in this journey is to show that certified properties better mitigate climate risk and MSCI is well equipped to do that, ' says Eileen Andrew from MSCI. Lisa Reynolds, GBCSA CEO, adds: ' Our longstanding partnerships around this index are a deep and a solid real investment into providing the property sector with the data and confidence required to build the investment case for green buildings. For some, the question was 'Why should I invest in making my property portfolio green?', now it becomes, 'Why would I not invest in green?'.' As a leader in sustainable commercial property, Growthpoint holds one of South Africa's largest and most varied portfolios of green-certified buildings. These assets not only lower the company's carbon footprint but also support long-term climate resilience central to its ESG strategy. With a clear goal to reach carbon neutrality across its portfolio by 2050, Growthpoint continues to lead in sustainable real estate. Chief operating officer Engelbert Binedell says data from MSCI and the GBCSA is key to shaping Growthpoint's approach. ' We use this data to benchmark performance, refine energy and net-zero targets, and realise the full financial and environmental value of green certification. This data-driven strategy ensures steady progress while meeting the expectations of investors, tenants and society for a low-carbon future. '
