Blogs and Essays
Fearsome Flora: Plants that Bite Back
Inspired by a paper published in our Botanical Journal, Education Officer Dani Crowley investigates the mysterious world of carnivorous plants and their scientific and cultural legacy
24th October 2023
Exploring Alfred Russel Wallace's Private Library
For October's "Treasure of the Month", our Librarian Will Beharrell describes the fascinating private library of Alfred Russel Wallace and efforts to reunite it in one space after more than a century
10th October 2023
Celebrating Black leaders in nature
It’s Black History Month, and we’ll be publishing several blogs that highlight the many contributions made by the Black community in conserving, studying and celebrating nature, throughout history and today.
2nd October 2023
Species Plantarum at 270
Carl Linnaeus' catalogue of plant species, "Species plantarum", was published in 1753 and changed the course of botanical nomenclature. In this blog, we uncover the many unique and wonderful copies held in libraries across the world.
6th September 2023
‘Exotic Attractions’: Conserving Engelbert Kaempfer's famous publication
Conservator Janet Ashdown looks at the importance and history of Carl Linnaeus's copy of Kaempfer's famous work
8th August 2023
An Insider's Tour of Wellclose Square: The Origin Story of the Wardian Case
Liz McGow, Archivist, leads us through Nathaniel Ward's half home-half laboratory in South London
3rd July 2023
