‘Few will ever know more about trees’- new exhibition opening this weekend celebrates the horticultural hero who saved Kew’s conifers

100 years ago this year, horticulturist William Dallimore took the bold and courageous decision to relocate Kew Gardens’ collection of mature conifer trees from London. Dallimore, who started his career at Kew Gardens as a student gardener in 1891 before being appointed assistant curator, had noticed through careful observation that the increasing industrial pollution in the city had had a detrimental impact on the growth of the trees. Through his hands on work with the collection throughout the early 1920s, Dallimore was the first to notice their declining health, observing that the ‘atmospheric conditions make it impossible to cultivate any kind of Conifers’. He also noted that the trees were of such rarity that ‘their replacement would be very difficult.’

With the health of this invaluable collection at the forefront of his mind, Dallimore went in search of a better environment to house the trees, including towering cedars, firs, pines, redwoods and yews. He was instrumental in the establishment of Bedgebury National Pinetum, a pioneering partnership between the Forestry Commission and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew following the end of the First World War. During the conflict, timber supplies across the UK were decimated due to blockades across international shipping lanes and the subsequent destruction of British forests to meet an almost-impossible demand for wood. The Forestry Commission was established in 1919 to develop state forests and ensure that Britain would never face a similar shortage. 

With varied topography and a mixture of soil types, Bedgebury proved to be ideal, and the first planting of trees grown at Kew took place there in 1925. Today, it is home to a world-leading collection of conifers containing nearly 12,000 specimen trees. 89 of the 315 trees which were planted in 1925 from Kew remain at Bedgebury, and the two organisations remain closely linked through the sharing of knowledge, research and skills across arboriculture. Bedgebury is now home to the largest pinetum in the world and is important on a global scale for species conservation, scientific advancement and the understanding of conifers.

The Power of Trees exhibition in Kew’s Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art will allow visitors to discover more about William Dallimore’s remarkable legacy. Displaying never-before-seen archive objects, including personal papers, planting plans, photographs and maps, the exhibition will illustrate Dallimore’s vision and illustrate the close links between Kew and Bedgebury. As well as this, 20 newly commissioned botanical artworks created by the artists of the Bedgebury Pinetum Florilegium Society will be displayed in the gallery, showcasing the value of botanical art in advancing scientific and horticultural understanding.  

Not only are these works visually beautiful, they also provide a vital record for the National Pinetum, with the group creating botanically accurate drawings of trees and plants from living samples across the seasons. The work of the Florilegium Society continues a centuries-old tradition of recording the natural world which enriches our understanding of plants and interpreting nature, as well as aiding botanical identification and the description of species. 

Dan Luscombe, Curator of Forestry England’s Bedgebury Pinetum, says: “William Dallimore was a true visionary who learnt about trees, and particularly conifers, through hands-on experiences across a decades-long career which culminated in the establishment of Bedgebury in 1925. He understood the importance of conservation and possessed a keen environmental awareness, long before it was a specialised field, and his expertise undoubtedly paved the way for the work which we proudly continue at Bedgebury today. I’m thrilled to be able to celebrate his vision with this new display and celebrate the close links between Bedgebury and Kew alongside the incredible artworks of the Florilegium Society.”

Kevin Martin, Head of Tree Collections at RBG Kew adds: “Bedgebury and Kew Gardens have shared a vitally important connection for the last 100 years, with William Dallimore at the forefront of understanding the importance of planting the right tree species in the right environment. As well as sharing knowledge and expertise across each of our tree collections, we’re very fortunate that the team at Bedgebury also collect and send seed to the Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex. This allows us to work collaboratively to research a range of species, helping to better understand their resilience and adaptability in an increasingly changing and unpredictable climate.”

In 2024, Kew published its groundbreaking ‘Planting for the Future’ report, which revealed that over half of the 11,000 trees at Kew Gardens may be at risk by 2090. Continuing Dallimore’s legacy of sharing knowledge and expertise, the report is designed as a blueprint for urban spaces, botanic, public and private gardens, protecting UK landscapes and ecology for future generations.

At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, we’re dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With Kew’s world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – we’re using our trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity we rely on the critical support of our visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity.

ENDS

Image credits: © RBG Kew.

Admission to the exhibition is included in a ticket to Kew Gardens. Pre-booking online offers the best value visit. 

For more information or images, please contact the Press Office at pr@kew.org.