Introduction
If ever you catch quite a beginner and want to give him a taste for botany tell him to make a perfect list of some little field or wood. Both Miss Thorley and I agree that it gives a really uncommon interest to the work, having a nice little definite world to work on, instead of the awful abyss and immensity of all British Plants.
Charles Darwin in a letter to Joseph Hooker -director of Kew Gardens
There are two ways of becoming wise. One is to travel out into the world and see as much as possible of God's creation. The other is is to put down roots in one spot and to study everything that happens there in as much detail as possible. The trouble is that it's impossible to do both at the same time.
Jostein Gardner - The Christmas Mystery
You will have probably gathered from the two quotes above that the general theme of this blog is studying one area in detail rather than travelling far and wide. In this case, studying the wild flowers that grow in Leazes Park and where possible taking a Darwinian perspective on the matter. It is well known that in the early part of his career Darwin travelled far and wide on board HMS Beagle. Less well known, however, are his studies in his own garden and its immediate surrounds and the influence those studies had on the formulation of his theory of evolution by natural selection.
The aim of this blog is to study the wild flowers of a 'nice little definite world' in this case Leazes Park rather than Darwin's gardens at Down House. It is not the intention of this blog to recapitulate Darwin's garden experiments (there are books that show you how to do just that) but it is worth mentioning that Darwin was a great botanist and even without his theory of evolution his work as a botanist would still be remembered today and where there are links with his researches these will be highlighted.
Leazes Park is the oldest park in Newcastle upon Tyne and it is situated in the centre of Newcastle. It is surrounded by University Buildings, the Newcastle Hospitals Trust and some beautiful Georgian Terraces in one of which I am lucky enough to live.
The park was opened in 1873 but its creation started before that in 1857 when 3000 working men petitioned Newcastle Council for some space for recreation. Their campaigning led to a space that has been enjoyed by generations down the years and that we can all enjoy to this day. Leazes Park has all the standard accoutrements of a park; a lake, a bandstand, flower beds, tennis courts and some basketball courts. Although Leazes Park is not a nature reserve it has its wild areas and in any case wildflowers (weeds if you like) find a way of appearing in the most 'well-managed' areas.
Like all parks, Leazes Parks has had some good times and some bad times. By the 1990s it was becoming dilapidated. Thanks to a heritage lottery grant, it was restored to its former glory. The bandstand was renewed, the lake restored and range of planting brought the park back to life.
Unfortunately, as a result of austerity things have slipped back a little. There has been a dramatic reduction in staff employed to maintain the parks and there has been an upsurge in graffiti and vandalism. For example, newly planted saplings have been snapped off and stone terraces have been vandalised. From time to time, people sleep rough in the park and they are seldom particular about the state they leave it in. And of course, there is the usual problem with litter. It seems that people who drink larger or cider and enjoy fast food have difficulty finding bins however big and well signposted they are. Despite all this and because of the work of the park rangers, the Friends of Leazes Park and others, Leazes Park remains an oasis in the centre of town.
What about me? I consider myself a relative novice when it comes to wildflowers. I completed the identiplant course, attended courses run by the Field Studies Council and by the Natural History Society of Northumbria. I don't consider myself any kind of authority and it is certain that there will be some mistakes. If you do find those mistakes please let me know....politely.
Charles Darwin in a letter to Joseph Hooker -director of Kew Gardens
There are two ways of becoming wise. One is to travel out into the world and see as much as possible of God's creation. The other is is to put down roots in one spot and to study everything that happens there in as much detail as possible. The trouble is that it's impossible to do both at the same time.
Jostein Gardner - The Christmas Mystery
You will have probably gathered from the two quotes above that the general theme of this blog is studying one area in detail rather than travelling far and wide. In this case, studying the wild flowers that grow in Leazes Park and where possible taking a Darwinian perspective on the matter. It is well known that in the early part of his career Darwin travelled far and wide on board HMS Beagle. Less well known, however, are his studies in his own garden and its immediate surrounds and the influence those studies had on the formulation of his theory of evolution by natural selection.
The aim of this blog is to study the wild flowers of a 'nice little definite world' in this case Leazes Park rather than Darwin's gardens at Down House. It is not the intention of this blog to recapitulate Darwin's garden experiments (there are books that show you how to do just that) but it is worth mentioning that Darwin was a great botanist and even without his theory of evolution his work as a botanist would still be remembered today and where there are links with his researches these will be highlighted.
Leazes Park is the oldest park in Newcastle upon Tyne and it is situated in the centre of Newcastle. It is surrounded by University Buildings, the Newcastle Hospitals Trust and some beautiful Georgian Terraces in one of which I am lucky enough to live.
The park was opened in 1873 but its creation started before that in 1857 when 3000 working men petitioned Newcastle Council for some space for recreation. Their campaigning led to a space that has been enjoyed by generations down the years and that we can all enjoy to this day. Leazes Park has all the standard accoutrements of a park; a lake, a bandstand, flower beds, tennis courts and some basketball courts. Although Leazes Park is not a nature reserve it has its wild areas and in any case wildflowers (weeds if you like) find a way of appearing in the most 'well-managed' areas.
Like all parks, Leazes Parks has had some good times and some bad times. By the 1990s it was becoming dilapidated. Thanks to a heritage lottery grant, it was restored to its former glory. The bandstand was renewed, the lake restored and range of planting brought the park back to life.
Unfortunately, as a result of austerity things have slipped back a little. There has been a dramatic reduction in staff employed to maintain the parks and there has been an upsurge in graffiti and vandalism. For example, newly planted saplings have been snapped off and stone terraces have been vandalised. From time to time, people sleep rough in the park and they are seldom particular about the state they leave it in. And of course, there is the usual problem with litter. It seems that people who drink larger or cider and enjoy fast food have difficulty finding bins however big and well signposted they are. Despite all this and because of the work of the park rangers, the Friends of Leazes Park and others, Leazes Park remains an oasis in the centre of town.
What about me? I consider myself a relative novice when it comes to wildflowers. I completed the identiplant course, attended courses run by the Field Studies Council and by the Natural History Society of Northumbria. I don't consider myself any kind of authority and it is certain that there will be some mistakes. If you do find those mistakes please let me know....politely.
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