The long read: When a US businessman took over a beloved garden a decade ago, he decided on a radical new approach, all in the name of sustainability. But angry critics claim it’s just plain neglect
When a US businessman took over a beloved garden a decade ago, he decided on a radical new approach, all in the name of sustainability. But angry critics claim it’s just plain neglectohn Curtis’s enemies – and for a man who runs a mid-sized botanical garden on the Isle of Wight, he has surprisingly many – have a tendency to refer to him as “the American Businessman”, a phrase that, for many islanders, carries overtones of rapaciousness and cultural barbarism.
Kidd is a large and ruminative man in his early 50s whose tanned face bears in repose an expression of thoughtful disquiet. He is a lifelong socialist; in his time at Kew, he organised a walkout – the first ever strike in Kew history – which earned him a reputation as something of a troublemaker in the industry. He speaks eloquently about the history of the botanical garden as an institution, and its status as an inheritance of colonialism.
In the years that followed, regular visitors began to note that certain insidious forces had set to work on the garden. Weeds had begun to deface the once meticulous borders and beds; dead leaves were left to pile up, and the garden’s orderly beauty was slowly succumbing to a slovenly disarray. In time, these same forces of entropy began to register on the garden’s once-pristine TripAdvisor page.
It was clear that Kidd still retained a great deal of fondness for his former mentor, but he was hurt and somewhat bewildered by the open letter. He spoke of Goodenough as someone who had once been a fellow radical “within the industry”, but who had aged into comfortable conservatism. On a couple of occasions, in fact, he raised the possibility that Goodenough himself might not even have written the letter.
“He’s an American,” she said, adjusting her pink polkadot scarf, and pouring a cup of tea. “Money is his guiding principle. When he took over the lease, he sent us his CV to prove to us what a big important successful businessman he was. But of course, reading it proved quite the opposite. He never stuck around anywhere for very long. You know: move in, sack a few people, turn a few things around, sell it at a profit.
The scheme never really took off, and when the government cut the tax subsidy for biofuel initiatives, Curtis started looking elsewhere. It was then that the situation at Ventnor caught his eye. “I was looking for a gear change,” he said, “but quite honestly I could not have told you that that was going to be the rescue of a botanic garden on the Isle of Wight.” When he thought about it, though, the rationale for stepping in seemed increasingly clear.
Walking uphill from the seafront into the town proper, I passed the offices of a solicitor with the frankly absurd name of AJ Careless, and then wandered for a while the mostly empty streets. The tourist season was long since over, and pretty much everywhere was shut. I walked as far as the Ventnor Heritage Museum, which Google maps had informed me was open – erroneously, it turned out.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US to send Abrams battle tanks to UkraineThe US has announced it will send 31 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine to assist in the war with Russia. US President Joe Biden says America will support Ukraine by sending Abrams tanks to Kyiv and providing the training and equipment essential for operating and maintaining the machinery. It comes after German Chancellor Olaf Sholz announced Germany would send one company of Leopard 2 A6 tanks, which comprises 14 vehicles.
Read more »
Classic trans-Tasman battle sees Aussie Diamonds clinch seventh Quad Series victoryAnother Quad Series title and another success story for the Australian Diamonds, who have beaten their old rivals the Silver Ferns in a classic encounter.
Read more »
Despite concerns, US to send 31 Abrams tanks to UkraineBREAKING: US President Joe Biden has signed off on sending 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine - in a major increase in support for the war-torn country. DETAILS: jekearsley 9News
Read more »
Germany answers Ukraine's plea for tanks, other EU nations expected to contributeAfter weeks of hesitation, Germany announces it will provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 battle tanks and approve requests by other countries to do the same.
Read more »
Berlin plans to send German Leopard tanks to Ukraine, according to reportsGermany will send its 2A6 battle tanks in conjunction with other countries such as Finland, Sweden and Poland, say reports citing government sources
Read more »