Kew Gardens blasted by Alan Titchmarsh for 'beating itself up' over colonialism
Alan Titchmarsh speaking during the Service of Thanksgiving for Forces' sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn
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London’s botanical collection, which is the largest in the world, promised to “decolonise” after Black Lives Matter protests gripped the West.
But Titchmarsh, 74, who studied at the gardens in South-West London, warned trying to “make mileage” out of historical wrongs is not helpful in 2023.
Speaking at Chalke Valley History Festival, he said: “I don’t think there’s much to be gained by either stopping growing a group of plants or by beating ourselves up.
“To keep making mileage out of it is not particularly helpful, it will not change what has happened before.
Kew Garden's Princess of Wales Conservatory
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“But not to grow plants which were collected 200 years ago in a way in which we would not collect plants does nothing for the continuation of biodiversity and the survival of species.
“What is most important is that we carry ourselves well now.
“We realise that our parents and grandparents did not operate as we do.
“They were in a different world, at a different time, with different morals.
A view of the display in front of the Palm House during a preview for Kew's Christmas light trail
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“They are not our morals, but as long as we behave ourselves properly, that to me is far more important than punishing a memory.”
Kew Gardens pledged to decolonise its collection in 2020.
It said it would acknowledge where specimens were taken from and highlight the connection between prominent botanists and the slave trade, including Sir Joseph Banks.
In a statement released in June 2020, Professor Alexandre Antonelli said: “At Kew, we aim to tackle structural racism in plant and fungal science.
Alan Titchmarsh at Global's Make Some Noise Night in London
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“We will strive, for example, to increase the ethnic representation of our staff and students.
“We will re-examine our scientific and curatorial practices and expand our programme of research into our historic collections to encourage diverse perspectives.
“We will widen access to our history by digitising the vast collections of specimens, letters, books and artefacts in our collections, and by examining and updating the western-centric labels we use to describe these items.”
He added: "By opening up our collections and practices, we will give voice to a past that includes troubled chapters, but one that will hopefully contribute to a brighter future."