MAGAZINE

PUBLISHED BY THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW

(THIS PAGE) JE AN POSTLE, P AUL LITTLE, A NDREW McROBB

Cover Red maple,Acer rubrum, in autumn byDennis Fast. For more on the arrival of North American autumn colour in Britain, see p38 PHOTOGRAPHS:(COVER) DENNIS FAST/VW PICS/VISUAL&WRITTEN SL;

Autumn 2008 16 PROFILE Hot shot Gail Vines brings the work ofKew staff photographer Andrew McRobb into focus 18EXPEDITIONS Every picture tells a story Andrew McRobb’s amazing photos highlight Kew’s vital work around the world, as Gail Vines discovers 24NEW DEVELOPMENTS Reaching for the treetops Kew’s Tony Kirkham reveals the trials and tribulations of turning his dream ofa permanent treetop walkway into reality

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29ART AND SCIENCE Fruits ofthe earth Gain a fresh perspective on fruit through the work ofWolfgang Stuppy and Rob Kesseler 32KEW’S COLLECTIONS Plant holders Richard Wilford looks at Kew’s nine National Plant Collections and why they’re so important 38PLANTS AND PEOPLE The seeds ofchange How did an 18th-century American farmer transform Britain’s autumn treescape? Andrea Wulf explains 44FIELD WORK Viva España It’s no holiday when Kew’s Diploma students go to Spain – Rowan Blaik reports on the annual field trip

3In this issue The editor’s letter

4Kew news The latest from all Kew’s gardens

9Direction Assessing feedback on the Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop Walkway

10Cuttings Around-up of plant science news

48Kew tips Tony Kirkham explains how to plant a tree

49Kew plants Two rowans with Kew connections

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50Wild Kew Keeping track of Kew’s flora and fauna

57Events Lots to do this autumn at Kew and Wakehurst Place

72Young Kew Discovering toadstools