Surely, you are right in front of The Flora. This is not just a pub. The Flora is woven into London’s story.
The natural vegetation of the British Isles was once deciduous forest. Oak trees dominated it. Human activity has changed much of this. Now woodlands cover less than a tenth of the country. The largest areas of woodland stand in Scotland and Northumberland. Also, they stand in Sussex, Wales and Norfolk.
Moorlands and heathlands occupy about a fourth of the UK. This includes arctic vegetation in Scotland. You also find peat moss, heather and thin grass. These are in the highland zone. Similar vegetation grows in Northern Ireland. It also grows on the Mourne Mountains. Light sandy soils in the lowland zone grow heather. Its deep purple color brightens the autumn countryside.
The survival of wildlife depends on adapting to the changing environment. They must protect themselves from humans. British mammals live in various habitats. Smaller carnivores thrive in most rural areas. These include badgers, otters and foxes. Rodents and hedgehogs are also widely distributed.
The British Isles are a paradise for bird watchers. The islands are at the center of a migratory network. Coastal, farmland and urban habitats suit birds. Around 200 bird species occur in the UK. More than half of these migrate. Suburban gardens have a high bird density.
Many British rivers have become polluted. This led to a decline of inland fisheries. The Dogger Bank in the North Sea is a rich fishing ground. It has provided excellent fishing for centuries.
For centuries, people have migrated to the British Isles. They came from many parts of the world. Some sought to avoid persecution. Others looked for a better life. Migrants joined the indigenous population during the Roman Empire. Also, they came during invasions by the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Danes and Normans.
All traditional UK languages derive from a common Indo-European origin. The Celtic languages arrived earliest. These include Irish, Manx and Scottish Gaelic. Brythonic languages include Cornish and Welsh. Welsh is the strongest Celtic language.
Modern English comes mainly from Germanic dialects. The Angles, Saxons and Jutes spoke these. They arrived in Britain in the 5th century. The language of the Danes influenced English. They colonized parts of northern and eastern England.
The French-speaking Normans influenced the English language. A hybrid speech combining Anglo-Saxon and Norman French developed. It became the official language. This hybrid language evolved into modern English.
Kew Gardens is a botanical garden in London. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003. Privately owned gardens existed at Kew from the 16th century. Frederick Louis and Augusta established a garden for exotic plants in 1759. By 1769, it held more than 3,400 plant species. Under Sir Joseph Banks, the collections grew. They included specimens from all over the world. Kew became a center for scientific research.
Kew Gardens contains living plants and dried specimens. Also it has a library of volumes, archived materials and drawings. The collections of orchids and ferns are exceptional. Kew originated the plantation industry of rubber. It plays a role in plant introduction.
William Curtis published “Flora Londinensis” in the 1770s. It described plants growing wild around London. The Saatchi Gallery held an exhibition called “Flowers”. It explored flora in art and culture.
The Flora stands as a testament to nature’s beauty. It also shows the impact of human history. It reminds us to appreciate the natural world around us.