How Botanic Gardens are Contributing to Global Plant Conservation
The loss of plant diversity is happening at an extraordinarily fast rate, the urgent need for conservation action has never been so crucial. Botanic Gardens are well-positioned to take on this challenge – they have a large pool of specialist horticultural experts trained in cultivation techniques, and scientific staff equipped with the knowledge and tools to develop genetically representative plant collections.
Dr Darach Lupton, Curator of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland is a trained botanist and gardener with more than 25 years of scientific and practical horticulture experience. In this talk he explores the concept of conservation-horticulture and how botanic garden plant collections and gardeners are so vital in tackling the loss of plant diversity.
Tapping into his national and international experiences Darach looks at how gardening techniques and skills are being used to save some of the world’s rarest and threatened plants.
Admission: €10. The Green Barn Restaurant and Shop is open Wednesday to Sunday for lunch, evening dinner available Friday and Saturday – booking is essential.
Directions: R14 KF63. From Dublin/Waterford take Exit 3 on M9 motorway and follow signs for Athy. Take the second left turn and Burtown House is on the left, well signposted.
Type of event: This event takes place indoors. There is an opportunity to view the gardens at Burtown House after the talk. Admission: Adults €8, children €4, under 8 free. House tours €10.
About Darach Lupton
Darach is currently the Curator of the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Kilmacurragh and the JFK Arboretum and adjunct Professor at the Department of Botany at Trinity College Dublin.
Darach graduated from the School of Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland in 1998; including a placement year at the RHS Garden, Wisley (1996-1997). He then went on to study Botany at Trinity College Dublin, graduating in 2002. He remained at Trinity were he completed his PhD. in 2007.
In early 2011 Darach and his family boldly moved to the Sultanate of Oman, where for 10-years he managed the department of Botany and Conservation at the Oman Botanic Garden. During those, as he says, wonderful years, he established a national programme for ethnobotanical research in Oman, collected many thousands of plants, discovered many new botanical records and described two species new to science.
Darach has had the privilege to undertake research and plant collecting expeditions in many exciting parts of the world including Belize, Guyana, Uganda, Tanzania, North America, Jordan, Oman and of course Ireland.
These experiences have fuelled his passion for the promotion of botanic gardens and horticulture as essential tools for global plant conservation. In addition to managing and showcasing his sites as beautiful public spaces Darach is developing a number of international projects where practical horticulture will be at the forefront of plant conservation…….watch this space, he assures me.
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