An alternative to moving the Kew Herbarium is to repatriate specimens to the Herbaria of their countries of origin. This would agree with the Director of Kew, Richard Deverell’s 2021 manifesto for change to “decolonise” the collections (Prof. Muthama Muasya, South Africa, The Times 24th Nov.) https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kew-herbarium-row-plant-specimens-should-be-returned-to-countries-of-origin-09rtbwsjt versions appeared in the Daily Mail https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12787153/Thyme-return-South-African-botanist-says-specimens-Kews-herbarium-repatriated-countries-origin.html?ito=whatsapp_share_article-top and the Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/24/return-kew-gardens-plants-country-origin-botanist/
The Sunday Telegraph (19th November) revealed the discovery of letters https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/11/18/historic-bequest-could-block-plans-to-move-kew-herbarium/ between then Director Joseph Hooker and UK Government dated 1866. Found in the RBG, Kew archives by Isobel Moses, the great grand daughter of Joseph Hooker, these agree the sale of Hooker’s Herbarium, the core of the current world famous herbarium, to the state, on condition that they stay at “the Royal Gardens, Kew”. Legal opinion says the letters appear to form a legal contract.
The Observer (Sat. 25th Nov 2023) provides an overview of the conflict between scientific staff and the Director. Staff say that collections are best where they are now, allowing synergy with Kew’s living collections, library and numerous labs and other researchers and institutes in London, while management want to use up to £200 million in UK taxpayers funds to create a new isolated, third UK Kew site with a new building for the herbarium, despite the specimens being safe and there being space for growth at the Kew site. The new building will be two and a half hours distant by public transport from Kew and with miles to the nearest possible accommodation for visitors https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/nov/25/cultural-vandalism-row-as-kew-gardens-and-natural-history-museum-plan-to-move-collections-out-of-london?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other