C: Education

Date posted: 6 June 2010  -  Permalink / Shortlink

Plant collections are a major resource for education about plants, their importance in every aspect of our lives and of other animals, and in the maintenance of the biological environment. From a respect for plant life comes recognition of the need for the sustainable use of the world’s biological resources. Collections can be used for education throughout life, from pre-school activities to learning in retirement; and in formal and informal teaching linked to schools, colleges and universities.

In addition to the teaching of plant biology and related environmental sciences, and the art and science of horticulture, all subjects in the National Curriculum can be taught using plants. Gardens can be especially suited to imaginative cross-curricular work, thus linking the arts, design and languages with science, but teachers usually need assistance with the use of a garden in this way.

Collections are well suited to promoting the public understanding of science and to contributing to life-long learning through live interpretation, including talks, demonstrations, courses and guided tours, as well as through exhibitions, self-guided trails and audio-visual presentations. While gardens can contribute to education in all the ways listed above, the quality of education staff is vital to the quality of delivery, and gardens should seek to employ qualified education staff wherever possible. Plants are necessary for all life on earth, and so they are relevant to the life of every single person.

PlantNet aims to promote and increase the use of plant collections for education.

To achieve this aim, PlantNet will:

  • encourage its members to establish sound education policies for the use of their collections
  • encourage collection holders to employ trained education staff
  • liaise with the Botanic Gardens Education Network (BGEN) in the organisation of conferences and workshops on good practice
  • host a workshop on research into the public understanding of science through the use of living plant collections
  • encourage the use of individual staff expertise and training of staff in educational and presentational skills
  • develop relationships with the Committee on the Public Understanding of Science and other relevant bodies
  • strengthen its relationship with Friends’ groups, knowing that in many cases they fund educational activities in botanic gardens and organise educational events
  • seek to draw on the skills of other bodies, such as museums and galleries, as necessary, in developing educational programmes and activities, including interpretation
  • encourage all staff in botanic, and similar, gardens to be involved in education, not just education staff.

The following policies are also relevant in delivering the Education policy: