Meet: Tim Entwisle

After knowing Tim for over 20 years, Graham thought he knew him well, but his book reveals there is so much more to this alga-loving botanic gardens director.





 

What was the idea behind your memoir?

I hope my personal journey to botanic gardens will encourage others to follow this path. I came to botany and gardens through the backdoor, hoping to bring a fresh outlook and do something a little different. But I became hooked on plants and gardens for the rest of my life. You have an unusual love of punk bands; have you lived a secret life? I might have but it’s my escape. My private taste of music is at the noisy end of bands. When I was director at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, Edmund Capon from the neighbouring Art Gallery, used to walk in the Gardens to escape and I used to walk through the Gallery for the same reason. We all need some where to reset.

 

You’ve worked at Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London, and Melbourne including Cranbourne. How do we sit globally?

We’re extremely lucky, the gardens in Australia are at the top. I feature that in the book, and while I’m working at William Guilfoyle’s masterpiece in Melbourne, I also describe visiting dozens around the world and bravely mention my favourites, including South China Botanic Garden and Kirstenbosh.





 

You changed the official commemorative tree planting honours concept in the botanic gardens, why?

Trees have been planted by governors-general, kings and queens, even Dame Nellie Melba, but I wanted to make that more contemporary by adding a modern cultural element. So far, this includes musician Nick Cave and cartoonist Michael Leunig. We also have extremely popular concerts and light shows, highlighting today’s culture but in many ways not too far from what the first Botanic Garden Directors – Mueller and Guilfoyle – did to encourage public enjoyment.





Pictured: Cranbourne





Pictured: Kirstenbosh





Pictured: South China Botanic Garden