Curator of Chelsea Physic Garden moves on
22 September 2010
Rosie Atkins is stepping down as curator of London’s oldest botanic garden - Chelsea Physic Garden - after nine years at the helm.
Sarah Troughton, Chairman of Trustees, said: ‘The garden has been transformed under Rosie’s leadership. Her professionalism and enthusiasm have been infectious and everyone involved with the garden will miss her very much’.
Rosie Atkins said: ‘It has been a great privilege to have worked in the garden which is as relevant today as when it was founded in 1673. I am particularly proud of the Horticultural Trainee programme, started in my first year, which has now launched 12 remarkable gardeners into the horticultural world’.
This summer a Jamaican Provision Ground was created at Chelsea Physic Garden to mark the 350th anniversary celebrations of the birth of Sir Hans Sloane, the garden’s benefactor. The display includes many of the medicinal and exotic plants Sloane brought back to Britain from his historic voyage to the Caribbean in 1687. This year also saw the launch of Chelsea Physic Garden’s adult learning programme.
Rosie Atkins launched Gardens Illustrated magazine in 1992. She has been a member of RHS Woody Plant Committee since 2002 and she is a Fellow of The Linnean Society. Rosie plans to devote more time to voluntary work, which includes serving on the Council of the Royal Horticultural Society and chairing London Gardens Network. She is also a trustee of Great Dixter Charitable Trust and Gardening for Disabled Trust.
Chelsea Physic Garden attracts some 45,000 visitors a year plus nearly 3,000 students from schools around London. It also has a growing Friends and Patrons scheme.
The Trustees will be advertising for the post of Curator of Chelsea Physic Garden in October.