St Helena - Napoleon's Garden Island and Its Botanical History

Explore the fascinating botanical history of St Helena, a remote British dependency island, in this lecture by Donal McCracken. Discover how this small 10x5 mile island became a crucial refreshment station and military bastion for East India Company fleets, as well as a temporary home for exotic plants from Asia and Africa en route to Europe and the West Indies. Learn about the island's public Botanic Garden, Castle Gardens, and Plantation House Garden, as well as the lush private gardens around Georgian farmhouses, all tended by indentured and enslaved gardeners. Delve into the visits of renowned explorer scientists like Banks, Cook, Burchell, Roxburgh, Darwin, and Joseph Hooker. Uncover the poignant story of Napoleon's attempt to recreate Josephine's Malmaison garden at Longwood. Gain insights into the rich tapestry of plant life on St Helena, including Australian daisies, Cape erythema, and endemic giant tree ferns, which contribute to the island's status as a living botanic garden.