VBotanical gardens are man – made schools of nature for education and research. The Royal Botanic Garden in London is the largest botanical garden in the world. Also known as Q Gardens, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003.
History has it that the construction of the Q Garden began years ago. Around 1299, the ruler of England built royal mansions near Que Garden. The garden gained prominence in the 1500’s when King Henry VII built it near his residence, Richmond Palace Q Garden. Over time, Augusta, Princess of Wales, modernized the garden. In 1722, Richmond Estate and Queue Garden became one, and in 1840, Queue Park was recognized as the National Botanical Garden by William Cavendish, President of the Royal Holty Cultural Society.
Spread over an area of 300 acres, the park is home to some of the largest and most diverse plants in the world. There are more than 30,000 different species of plants here. The main attraction of the garden is the Que Herbarium. Samples of more than 50 lakh plants are kept here.
The Tree Top Walkway is another attraction that attracts visitors to Q Garden. The 18 meter high walkway over the trees helps the tourists to get a closer look at the plants. There is a special place for amber flowers. Its name is Water Lily House. It was completed in 1852 by Richard Turner. ‘The Hive’, an alpine house for alpine plants, and a palm house for growing different types of palms are the main attractions of the Q Garden. The library is home to more than 175,000 books and drawings. Visitors are allowed to visit the place daily from 10 am to 8 pm.