Volunteer members of the Garden’s library team past and present gathered last week to enjoy a special lunch, share happy memories and talk about future plans.
The occasion? Our volunteer team leader Margot Greer has reluctantly decided, after 10 years at the helm of the Garden’s Library, that she is ready for pastures new – still at the Garden, we hasten to add!
Canadian-born Margot, a retired professional Librarian, has been responsible for creating the unique library that we have here at National Botanic Garden of Wales, and for building up a team of volunteers to take on the many aspects of the Library’s work. Her enthusiasm for the Garden, and for the Library, is infectious and has drawn in volunteers from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Margot’s many projects
A few examples of the Library’s projects under Margot’s capable leadership – creating an exhibition Welsh Women Botanists which has been taken all over Wales and beyond; researching the life and work of James Motley, 19th Century Welsh Botanist and plant-hunter; supporting the work of the successful Stitching Botanicals artists; providing displays and exhibits for special events at the Garden such as Wildflower Days, Fungus Weekends and Apple Festivals. We’ve helped students, researchers, history and natural history groups, artists, holders of national plant collections and many more. And of course we’ve sorted and catalogued the many donated collections of books, journals, scientific papers which make up our Library.
Through all this Margot has somehow managed to turn a disparate bunch of volunteers into a real team.
So, we join in wishing her all the best for her new projects here in the Botanic Garden, wherever they may take her. And to assure her of a warm welcome when she drops in to the Library – as we’re sure she will.
Kate Jones – text
Stephen Verbeeck – photography