Kews Forgotten Queen

Within Kew Gardens stands an extraordinary gallery celebrating the work of one of the most prolific botanical artists of the Victorian age At a time when women barely left their parlour rooms Marianne Norths globetrotting exploits defied convention as she travelled alone at the height of the British Empire From Borneo and Brazil to Japan South Africa Australia and India she fearlessly navigated the world twice over in her pursuit of capturing every living plant on canvas Actress Emilia Fox tells the story of how this Victorian rebel changed the face of botanical research propelling her to the top of a maledominated world of science and exploration gaining the admiration of Charles Darwin and even Queen Victoria Retracing Mariannes footsteps and her passion for the natural world Emilia revisits the aweinspiring locations of some of her greatest experiences