PLANS FOR OUR JOSEPH HOOKER BICENTENARY

​Halesworth in Bloom Plans 2017
 
We are determined not to let the bicentenary of Joseph Hooker’s birth go unmarked here in Halesworth and we want to have a focus weekend of events and exhibitions around 30 June 2017.
Our preliminary ideas for the Joseph Hooker bicentenary, shared with the Director of Kew Gardens, include:
:
Joseph Dalton Hooker born 30th June 1817 in Brewery House now Hooker House Halesworth
 

• A special new Town Trail booklet on the Hookers with an inset on his Bicentenary with help from Kew. With page on Park Trail of plants collected by Joseph on his travels giving their names of plants, map with world origin advised by Kew
• A colour Plaque on the window recesses at the side of Hooker House with new planter and appropriate planting to mark the Bicentenary with layout provided by Kew.
• New planting in the Joseph Hooker Memorial Garden; we already have 40 plants with the name Hooker within their nomenclature, which are labelled; a new information board.
• A children’s exhibition in Halesworth Library of work researched by them on Joseph Hooker and of portraits by children of the Hookers as they imagine them.
• A Scientific Literary Luncheon, in Association with Kew, and a star guest to introduce advised by John Burton WLT. and talk at The Cut Arts Centre with an exhibition of flower paintings by Sally Marlow from live specimens of plants with Hooker nomenclature and grown here in Halesworth
• An exhibition on Joseph Hooker in conjunction with the World Land Trust and the Linnaean Society and Kew.
• A Joseph Hooker Walk within our Green Flag Halesworth Town Park, with associated planting in association with Kew of Rhododendrons and other plants first brought back by Joseph Hooker
• Planting, with Anglia in Bloom and Kew Gardens and pupils from Edgar Sewter School – presence but advice on appropriate planting, of a memorial tree for Joseph Hooker.
• Millennium Green Scientific Camp Hooker Style with Flora and Fauna foray
• Fundraising Hooker Bicentenary Mugs and Tea Towels  designed by Susie Bailey advised by Kew.
• Accessing Sponsorship and other funding to Commission of A bronze/or resin life-size sculpture of Joseph Hooker for our Hooker Arboretum. Contacts to Hooker descendants needed from Kew
• Or Christopher Mills suggestion of £3000 copy of Kew Bust in Library & Archives Foyer.