Richard's irrestible role - Woodend resident lands dream job in the UK

Richard Barley has been appointed director of horticulture for the renowned Kew Gardens in England.

Open Gardens Australia CEO and Woodend resident, Richard Barley, has been appointed to a prestigious role at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, in England.

Richard, who was previously director of Melbourne Gardens for the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, will leave Australia in early July to take up the newly created position of director of horticulture for the renowned Kew Gardens.

"RBG Kew is widely regarded as the world's pre-eminent botanic garden, with a rich history of over 250 years of being centrally involved in the discovery, classification, documentation, growing, distribution and conservation of the world's flora," Richard said. "Within a UNESCO World Heritage site of around 300 acres it holds extraordinarily diverse plant collections, stunning glasshouse structures and other significant landscape features. 

"The opportunity presented in the new role of director of horticulture at Kew is irresistible."

The appointment continues a strong link between Australian and British botanic gardens, with Professor Tim Entwisle recently returning from RBG Kew to lead the RBG Melbourne, and the retirement last year of Professor Stephen Hopper as executive director of RBG Kew to return to Western Australia.

Richard said he is very proud of what Open Gardens Australia has achieved over the past three years, and that it is well-equipped to move forward into a new era of success, and support for Australia's gardening community.

"It has given me great pleasure to play a role in writing the new chapter of the OGA story," he said.

"Establishing our National Office in Woodend has been a significant step forward, and we have a great team of enthusiastic, talented staff working in there now."

Richard said that while he has loved his work with OGA, he had no hesitation about accepting this new appointment, which is open-ended.

"It is really a position almost without parallel in the world, so there really was no hesitation on my part, notwithstanding all the upheaval, but it is the dream job."

Richard's wife Anita, a highly regarded botanical artist, and daughter, Georgina, will make the move with him to Kew, and are equally excited about the opportunities it presents.

"Kew has an incredibly rich tradition and history of botanical art and is really seen as a centre for those disciplines. Anita is also particularly looking forward to the whole diversity of artistic influences and opportunity in the UK as well.

"Georgie is also very excited about the prospect of studying in an English university and experiencing new perspectives.

"We look forward to friends and acquaintances from Australia calling in to visit over in Kew," he added.