Truro Civic Society
presents
‘Elizabeth Andrew Warren, algologist and botanist of Flushing’. A talk by Guy English.
Moresk Centre, St Clement Street,
FREE at 2.30pm on Tuesday 18th February.
Booking: admin@trurocivicsociety.com
A C19th woman botanist, born in Truro, lived in Flushing, died in Kea, but collected plants from four continents, and understood her native Fal Estuary – especially its sea-weed so well that Kew Gardens celebrates her as one of the most valued contributors.
Born in Truro, Elizabeth spent most of life in Flushing, and studied the plantlife of the River Fal. She was a key supplier of specimens to Kew Gardens, where she was known as ‘Miss Warren’.
Her life is one of delight and knowledge gathering. She was an educator and a published writer who was part of the energetic community, inspired by Darwin, who collected, studied and classified the families and species of plants, both on land and under water, – a largely unsung heroine of the natural sciences.
Guy English retired to Cornwall some years ago and embarked with his wife on a personal journey of discovery to view and describe the Holy Wells of Cornwall. This followed a project to describe the exotic gardens of Cornwall, during which they discovered the work of a pioneering Truro woman, Botanist, Elizabeth Andrew Warren. Following his wife’s death Guy wrote a book about their search for holy wells which is a best seller in Cornwall at the moment.
