Cycads lifted and ready to be moved to their home
for the next few years.
This Glasshouse is the largest at Kew, originally opened in 1863 and now the largest surviving Victorian Glasshouse in the world. Time and water have taken their toll on this building, and just 30 years since it was last restored it needs another full restoration. This does seem quite a short period of time, although the building itself was not constructed to todays modern standards, so hopefully the restoration will include modern techniques to ensure its long term survival, and hopefully allow it to reach its 200th anniversary in some 50 years time.
Many of the palms are having trenches dug next to them prior to moving. This is to encourage the palms roots to form a dense root ball, which will hopefully allow a more successful transplanting when they are eventually lifted completely. Kew state that they intend to return these palms to the Temperate house at the end of the project. With many likely to be stored in the tropical nursery at Kew in the meantime.
Washingtonia Palm also being prepared.
The Stump of a former Washingtonia that was removed a couple of years ago when it outgrew its space.
The final section was previously home to a number of Proteas and Cycads but is now mostly empty with many already removed.
That's a serious bit of lifting kit!
Cycad already lifted
In places the Glasshouse more closely resembles a nursery with plants lifted, potted, divided, and labelled.
With the work underway, sadly a common sight in the Temperate house now is this one until it re-opens.
The work is due to take place in stages so parts of the glasshouse will be open during the works, which also hopefully means some of it will be completed and re-opened ahead of the eight year timescale. As we are members we will be regular visitors during the restoration and will be keen to see how things develop.
Gaz
Kew Gardens Appeal
