Introducing INTO Tropical Gardens
A new forum for heritage, horticulture and hope
We’re thrilled to announce the formation of a new INTO Community of Practice (CoP) focused on Tropical Gardens. A vibrant, cross-continental initiative bringing together INTO members who are passionate about gardens, climate resilience and cultural heritage.
This new group emerged from a rich and inspiring virtual meeting held on 20 March 2025, where members from Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Malaysia, the Maldives and St Helena shared stories of their landscapes, challenges and aspirations. From desert parks to rainforest sanctuaries, each site is unique – but all are united by a shared commitment to sustainability, community engagement and the preservation of tropical biodiversity.
Why a Tropical Gardens CoP?
The idea was sparked by Soham Kacker of the Geoffrey Bawa Trust in Sri Lanka, who saw the potential for collaboration among INTO members working in tropical environments. The group identified common themes:
- Climate change adaptation and resilience
- Shared colonial legacies and heritage
- Urban green space and community outreach
- Revitalisation of native and ethnobotanical plant knowledge
Participants expressed a strong desire to learn from one another, share best practices and explore how gardens can be tools for education, healing and cultural revival.
Next Speaker Event – 9 July 2026
Join us on Thursday, 9 July at 9am BST/London time (8am GMT) for a session on:
Adapting to Climate Change: Lessons from Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park
with Somil Daga, Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, India
Somil will share insights from the management of a restored desert landscape, exploring climate resilience, ecological approaches to gardening, and the use of native plant species in challenging environments.
Previous speakers
The Tropical Gardens Community of Practice has brought together a diverse range of practitioners and perspectives from across the INTO network:
June 2025
Marketing and Promoting Tropical Gardens
Sharon Cooke, Andromeda Botanic Gardens, Barbados National Trust
Sharon shared her experience developing the Andromeda Ethnobotanical Garden, highlighting how interpretation, storytelling and community engagement can reconnect people with plant heritage and biodiversity.
28 August 2025
Tsegedera Garden and Climate Adaptation
Bethelhem Gebremedhin, Heritage Watch Ethiopia
Bethelhem introduced the restoration of the historic Tsegedera Garden as a living classroom for climate resilience, combining heritage conservation, indigenous knowledge and community involvement.
October 2025
The Heritage Kampung Garden
Katy Karpfinger, Badan Warisan Malaysia
Katy explored the cultural significance of the Heritage Kampung Garden and demonstrated how public programming can deepen engagement with traditional landscapes.
27 November 2025
Plants, Enslavement and Public History
Zakiya McKenzie, INTO
Zakiya presented research on the intertwined histories of plants and people, examining how botanical collections can help interpret complex colonial legacies.
29 January 2026
Thai plants and a short brief about their botanical study
Dr Pramote Triboun, The Siam Society
An introduction to Thai plant diversity, taxonomy and the role of seed banking in conservation.
26 March 2026
Rejuvenation and Restoration of a Tropical Garden
David Cozens, National Trust of Zimbabwe
Practical insights into restoring and managing tropical garden landscapes over time.
30 April 2026
Reforesting a Tropical Island
Helena Bennett, St Helena National Trust
A case study in ecosystem restoration, focusing on island environments and native species recovery.
28 May 2026
Gardening Ecologically in a Heritage Garden: a year in Geoffrey Bawa’s Lunuganga
Soham Kacker, Geoffrey Bawa and Lunuganga Trusts
An exploration of ecological gardening practices within a culturally significant designed landscape.
Coming up – 30 July 2026
Join us on Thursday, 30 July at 9am BST/London time (8am GMT) for a session on:
Managing Subtropical Gardens in Northern Climates
with James Cordingley, Head Gardener at Dunster Castle and Gardens in Somerset
The Tropical Gardens CoP meets regularly online, with each session focusing on a specific theme – from native planting and climate adaptation to community engagement and digital storytelling.
This is just the beginning. As Vanessa Loong of Badan Warisan Malaysia put it, “We want to preserve an urban oasis and educate people so that they will share the love.”
Join the Conversation
Are you working with a tropical garden or interested in joining this new community? We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re a heritage professional, gardener, educator or advocate, there’s a place for you in this growing network.
Let’s grow something beautiful – together.
The Andromeda Ethnobotanical Garden is a celebration of local - local people, plants, and wildlife. It’s a community garden in the widest sense of the word.
Seed grant projects
As part of our UKRI-funded collaboration with the University of Bristol, INTO has awarded nine seed grants. These projects explore the links between plants, people and the legacies of enslavement through research, interpretation and community engagement across sites in the Caribbean, Atlantic and East Africa.
Read more here