The Rev. Thomas Birch Freeman (1809 – 1890), was a British missionary of Anglo-African descent, his success in founding churches and schools in the Gold Coast (now Ghana) has been well documented. However his contribution to botany, plant collecting and horticulture has been overshadowed by this religious legacy.
In this online talk garden historian Advolly Richmond will share her fascinating ongoing research, including travelling to Ghana in 2018 to examine Birch Freeman’s family archives; and will reveal the extent of his horticultural and botanical legacy.
Speakers
-
Advolly Richmond
Advolly Richmond
Advolly Richmond is an independent researcher in Garden, Landscape and Social History, based in Shropshire. She is a trustee of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust and also sits on the Gardens Trust Events Committee. Through her Royal Horticultural Society training and qualifications she went on to achieve an MA in Garden History from the University of Bristol. A member of the Garden Media Guild, she conducts her research alongside her other activities which include television and radio presenting and the delivery of Introduction to Garden History courses.