Functions of a Botanic Gardens
Every now and again it is worth revisiting previous work/s and thinking about how relevant they are for todays world. This is true for Botanic gardens worldwide especially in a time of change not in the least is climate change, food shortages and habitat destruction.
Therefore this through piece looks at the function of a modern botanic gardens. It is not designed to be a “this is what a Botanic gardens should or must do” but rather look at it broadly and allow individual gardens to incorporate functions that they can do and that are important to their community, region or country.
The general functions of a Botanic Garden are
Legislation and Policy Management
Publicly funded botanic gardens are often set up under specific or general legislation which sets put parameters in which to operate. These may include governance, funding, land tenure, programmes, science, and information.
A management plan or similar setting out responsibilities and methodologies for meeting these regulatory goals will be required. Additionally the plan will address how the range of functions and activities will be developed and managed.
Other legislation may impact on such a plan. Heritage legislation is often an integral part of this. Heritage whether cultural or physical, tangible or intangible is often an integral part of the site and needs to be addressed. Issues such as archeology, heritage conservation, heritage use and or reuse and interpretation should be addressed. There is often guidelines available from governmental heritage organisations.
Planning legislation managed by local or regional councils also require compliance in order for development and management of botanic gardens and their activities and science programmes.
The various provisions in legislation need to be considered and detailed especially how this will work together rather than as separate pieces of legislation.
Heritage Management
Guidelines for heritage management may be obtained from a Government Organisation set up to manage Heritage. This includes archeology, archeological approvals, conservation plans, heritage conservation and protocols.
ICOMOS Charters. World charters and country charters exist as a guideline for the assessment, conservation and management of heritage
Attention is drawn to The ICOMOS-IFLA International Committee for Historic Gardens, otherwise known as the Florence Charter.
Botanic gardens are full of Heritage of many different types
Examples
Conservation Plans. A Heritage Conservation Plan to reflect the community’s long term interest in preserving its heritage the botanic gardens must develop Conservation Plan/s in order to
Collection Management
A collections policy will clearly tell the public how the collections are going to be managed. The botanic gardens are an outdoor/indoor living museum and the policies should reflect that those of a museum not those of a landscape garden.
Such a policy should include
Horticultural display and cultivation techniques
As a visitor attraction, policies around this area of work are vital. One of the regular day to day activities is the way in which the collections are presented to the public (and other interested parties).
The botanic garden needs to provide the public with the indication of the standard of this work that will be seen and expected.
The management plan must be flexible in allowing the development of permanent or temporary displays by providing the right policies for this to occur.
A policy of horticultural practice and quality is required to provide the public with expectations and the staff with goals.
Associated with these policies will be policies on landscape and circulation.
Interpretation, education and dissemination of knowledge
While botanic gardens are developed because they look good they are a very important information institution.
Interpretation is the provision of information to visitors. It should be stimulating, interesting and extremely well done. It does not have to be information only but should lead to encourage all people to seek further information from other sources. Interpretation should also stimulate a question or provide a moral to the story.
Interpretation of the stories and history of the area should to be incorporated with the development of the botanic gardens.
Education is more formal and relates to group or class situations.
Dissemination of knowledge relates to usually the written word and associated graphics via printing or digital methods and must be addressed.
The concept of knowledge management must be at the centre of this work to ensure appropriate recognition of intellectual physical capital that invested in over the years.
Science, research and conservation
Not all botanic gardens will employ scientists however it is the collections and records that are of importance upon which scientific investigation can be undertaken.
Polices around the development of Memorandums of Understanding with scientific institutions and research institutions will provide a pathway whereby its information and collections and others the science and research.
Science and Research should not be restricted to just biological sciences, conservation, and forestry but also horticulture, food science, chemistry, business, tourism, heritage, history, sociology and any other investigative endeavor.
Examples may include
Visitor Services
Visitor services are an important function in providing a level of comfort and satisfaction to people who want to visit a botanic gardens.
Visitor Services can vary depending upon a number of factors
Location.
Remote locations may mean basic services such as toilets, rest rooms, café, shelters whereas urban locations may wish to limit services and let nearby businesses or other providers undertake these.
Conversely the provision of such services may be seen as an income stream and higher quality additional facilities and services where a reasonable or premium price may be charged for these services.
Visitor Numbers.
Visitors are an important feature of a botanic gardens especially if publicly funded as they can provide good feedback for improved functions. Volumes of visitors can vary by seasons, time of day or day of the week and public holidays. Overall visitor numbers can be influenced by the quality of all of the other functions of the botanic gardens.
Visitor ethnicity.
Catering for the diversity of the local and regional community is important. Additionally visitors can bring in other ethnic dimensions to be considered as part of the management regime.
Visitor Age
Understanding the spread of age groupings of visitors will provide information about the nature of visitor services required.
Examples
Summary
People will have other specific comments to make but overall the main functions are as set out above.
The uniqueness of each botanic garden will be how they give effect to those functions and how well they are communicated to various audiences.
Therefore this through piece looks at the function of a modern botanic gardens. It is not designed to be a “this is what a Botanic gardens should or must do” but rather look at it broadly and allow individual gardens to incorporate functions that they can do and that are important to their community, region or country.
The general functions of a Botanic Garden are
- Legislation and Policy Development
- Heritage Management
- Collection management
- Horticultural display and cultivation techniques
- Interpretation, education and dissemination of knowledge
- Science and research
- Visitor Services
Legislation and Policy Management
Publicly funded botanic gardens are often set up under specific or general legislation which sets put parameters in which to operate. These may include governance, funding, land tenure, programmes, science, and information.
A management plan or similar setting out responsibilities and methodologies for meeting these regulatory goals will be required. Additionally the plan will address how the range of functions and activities will be developed and managed.
Other legislation may impact on such a plan. Heritage legislation is often an integral part of this. Heritage whether cultural or physical, tangible or intangible is often an integral part of the site and needs to be addressed. Issues such as archeology, heritage conservation, heritage use and or reuse and interpretation should be addressed. There is often guidelines available from governmental heritage organisations.
Planning legislation managed by local or regional councils also require compliance in order for development and management of botanic gardens and their activities and science programmes.
The various provisions in legislation need to be considered and detailed especially how this will work together rather than as separate pieces of legislation.
Heritage Management
Guidelines for heritage management may be obtained from a Government Organisation set up to manage Heritage. This includes archeology, archeological approvals, conservation plans, heritage conservation and protocols.
ICOMOS Charters. World charters and country charters exist as a guideline for the assessment, conservation and management of heritage
Attention is drawn to The ICOMOS-IFLA International Committee for Historic Gardens, otherwise known as the Florence Charter.
Botanic gardens are full of Heritage of many different types
Examples
- First tree planted in the gardens
- Conservatories
- Special buildings and sites
- Herbarium
- Works of art
- Library
- Specific gardens within the garden
- Plant collections
- Trees and plantings for science and social, cultural & historical reasons.
- Buildings and the history of these buildings
- History – The ‘stories’ or history that has been recorded in the area. Including cultural, social, conservation, early occupation and economic history.
- Historic landscape
Conservation Plans. A Heritage Conservation Plan to reflect the community’s long term interest in preserving its heritage the botanic gardens must develop Conservation Plan/s in order to
- Develop heritage assessments
- Identify the outcomes for conservation, function/use and public awareness
- Develop polices for heritage
- Identify the goals/policies/methods/actions to achieve those outcomes
- Undertake appropriate conservation work as part of the ongoing management.
Collection Management
A collections policy will clearly tell the public how the collections are going to be managed. The botanic gardens are an outdoor/indoor living museum and the policies should reflect that those of a museum not those of a landscape garden.
Such a policy should include
- The purpose for which collections are to be made including priorities
- Accession policy and provenance including duplication for different purposes
- Collection records systems and accessibility
- How the collections will be developed (resources, staff)
- How the collections will be developed and under what conditions (financial, climatic, location, botanical, geographical etc)
- Cultivation and garden management
- Labeling
Horticultural display and cultivation techniques
As a visitor attraction, policies around this area of work are vital. One of the regular day to day activities is the way in which the collections are presented to the public (and other interested parties).
The botanic garden needs to provide the public with the indication of the standard of this work that will be seen and expected.
The management plan must be flexible in allowing the development of permanent or temporary displays by providing the right policies for this to occur.
A policy of horticultural practice and quality is required to provide the public with expectations and the staff with goals.
Associated with these policies will be policies on landscape and circulation.
Interpretation, education and dissemination of knowledge
While botanic gardens are developed because they look good they are a very important information institution.
Interpretation is the provision of information to visitors. It should be stimulating, interesting and extremely well done. It does not have to be information only but should lead to encourage all people to seek further information from other sources. Interpretation should also stimulate a question or provide a moral to the story.
Interpretation of the stories and history of the area should to be incorporated with the development of the botanic gardens.
Education is more formal and relates to group or class situations.
Dissemination of knowledge relates to usually the written word and associated graphics via printing or digital methods and must be addressed.
The concept of knowledge management must be at the centre of this work to ensure appropriate recognition of intellectual physical capital that invested in over the years.
Science, research and conservation
Not all botanic gardens will employ scientists however it is the collections and records that are of importance upon which scientific investigation can be undertaken.
Polices around the development of Memorandums of Understanding with scientific institutions and research institutions will provide a pathway whereby its information and collections and others the science and research.
Science and Research should not be restricted to just biological sciences, conservation, and forestry but also horticulture, food science, chemistry, business, tourism, heritage, history, sociology and any other investigative endeavor.
Examples may include
- Climate change effects
- Taxonomy
- Chemistry in search of new chemicals
- Food science and nutrition
- Conservation methodology
- Habitat conservation and management
- Plant genetics
- Plant breeding
- Plant health for economic crops
- Economic crop investigation and development
- Plant animal interaction and ecology.
Visitor Services
Visitor services are an important function in providing a level of comfort and satisfaction to people who want to visit a botanic gardens.
Visitor Services can vary depending upon a number of factors
Location.
Remote locations may mean basic services such as toilets, rest rooms, café, shelters whereas urban locations may wish to limit services and let nearby businesses or other providers undertake these.
Conversely the provision of such services may be seen as an income stream and higher quality additional facilities and services where a reasonable or premium price may be charged for these services.
Visitor Numbers.
Visitors are an important feature of a botanic gardens especially if publicly funded as they can provide good feedback for improved functions. Volumes of visitors can vary by seasons, time of day or day of the week and public holidays. Overall visitor numbers can be influenced by the quality of all of the other functions of the botanic gardens.
Visitor ethnicity.
Catering for the diversity of the local and regional community is important. Additionally visitors can bring in other ethnic dimensions to be considered as part of the management regime.
Visitor Age
Understanding the spread of age groupings of visitors will provide information about the nature of visitor services required.
Examples
- Public toilets etc
- Cafes and food service
- Library and information
- Tours
- Shopping
- Transport
- Displays
- Events
Summary
People will have other specific comments to make but overall the main functions are as set out above.
The uniqueness of each botanic garden will be how they give effect to those functions and how well they are communicated to various audiences.