Chelsea Physic Garden

30.07.12

London’s oldest botanic garden, Chelsea Physic Garden was founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries for the purpose of training apprentices in identifying plants.Situated in the heart of London, it has a unique living collection of around 5,000 different edible, useful, medicinal and historical plants. To this  peaceful green oasis came a group of Marketors to view the many rare and endangered species and wonder at such as the largest outdoor fruiting olive tree in Britain and the world’s most northerly outdoor grapefruit tree. From pomegranates to ginkgos, mulberries to eucalyptus, there are over 100 different types of tree in the Garden.

The other attraction for the Marketors was the Physic Garden's annual reception and prize giving. This was a typical English summer garden scene with a scattering of floral dresses and panama hats plus, of course, the wine and the nibbles and the polite applause. A very gentile affair. From here many of the Marketors wound their way to a nearby Gordon Ramsey restaurant which, unfortunately, we were unable to attend. And so a good time was had by all thanks to our Middle Warden's wife Pam Mullins who has had a long association with the garden, and Freeman Simone Davies who ably organised the two visits.

John Flynn
Master Marketors