Education and excitement part of the Castleton Botanical Gardens Expo

Nestled in the hills of St. Mary, the lush and picturesque Castleton Botanical Gardens will host its annual expo on May 31 under the theme ‘Protect Our Species’.
Situated on either side of the Kingston to St. Mary main road, the 157 -year-old gardens, which is a haven for many birds and exotic fruit trees such as the mangosteen, velvet apple, and rambutan, will showcase a number of display booths.
They include the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) and the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA). Also to be included are the Jamaica Cancer Society and Food For The Poor.
Among the patrons expected to attend this year’s staging of the expo, which will feature, a tour of the gardens, prizes and surprises, plant sale, rides, and other entertainment, are students, teachers and parents.
Botanist and Education Officer at the Public Gardens Division of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry, Nordia Hamilton, explained that the overarching purpose of the expo is to keep patrons informed, especially about the Castleton Botanical Gardens, which became one of the great gardens of the hemisphere due to its rich plant varieties.
“It is about education and conservation. We find that a lot of persons do not know about the Castleton Gardens and the Public Gardens Division,” she said.
Additionally, Ms. Hamilton emphasized that it is important to preserve the flora and fauna found in the Castleton Gardens as well as the other four attractions that fall under the division because of their historical significance.
They include Holland Bamboo in St. Elizabeth, Fern Gully in St. Ann, Bath Botanical Gardens in St. Thomas and the Cinchona Botanical Gardens in St. Andrew.
“At the end of the day, everything has its place in the (world). Certain plants that are endemic to Jamaica are also a part of our rich heritage, so we also have to try and keep them,” she said.
Ms. Hamilton informed that a plant collection programme has been established to collect exotic and endemic plants from other places to add to the gardens and to provide information about their usefulness.
Tasked with the responsibility of promoting the developments in plant conservation, research, education, and passive recreation, the Public Gardens Division also engages in crop management and the commercial sale of some plants.
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