
Discover the journey at Fulham Palace as we update and enhance our plant collection database – an essential step toward official botanic garden recognition.
Over the past two years, the team at Fulham Palace has been hard at work updating and enhancing our plant collection database, a critical step in our journey toward being recognised officially as a botanic garden.
With the help of cutting-edge software called Persephone 2.1, we’ve modernised our approach to managing the incredible variety of plants growing here. Recently, this updated database was officially uploaded to a recognised plant database platform, marking a significant milestone for our collection. To ensure everyone at Fulham Palace can fully utilise this resource, all the relevant staff participated in a training session. The session focused on how to access information about the plants growing across the Palace grounds, including the correct botanical name, plant location and some historical context.
Why a plant database matters
All species planted since 2012 were uploaded to the Persephone 2.0 database which allows garden staff to know what is growing on site at any time. Going forward with further work such as uploading photographs and more information, this comprehensive resource will allow us to identify plants, share information with the public, create accurate plant labels and provide a deeper understanding of our living collection. The next step in this project will be to incorporate historical planting data from before 2012, ensuring a complete record of the Palace’s horticultural legacy.
Our work is not just about record-keeping. It’s about laying the groundwork to meet the criteria required to achieve Official Botanic Garden Status. While we already function as a botanic garden in many respects, gaining formal recognition from Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) would align Fulham Palace with gardens around the globe that prioritise plant conservation, sustainability and the protection of endangered species.

The path to Botanic Garden Status
Becoming an officially recognised botanic garden involves meeting specific standards set by BGCI, the organisation that unites botanic gardens worldwide under a shared mission.
These criteria include:
- Plant conservation: Supporting the survival of vulnerable and endangered species.
- Sustainability: Promoting environmentally friendly practices.
- Education & research: Providing resources for learning and contributing to scientific understanding.
While Fulham Palace is already a hub for education, sustainability and horticultural excellence, we currently fall slightly short on the conservation criteria. However, the new plant database is a crucial step forward, enabling us to better track and manage the plants in our care and identify opportunities to contribute to global conservation efforts.

Looking ahead
As we continue to refine our plant database and integrate historical data, we will continue to assess whether achieving official botanic garden status is the right path for Fulham Palace. This decision will require input from staff, stakeholders and our community. Regardless of the outcome, our commitment to plant conservation, education and sustainability remains steadfast.
For now, the enhanced database is already making a difference. It empowers our team with detailed plant knowledge and supports our ability to share this information with visitors, creating a deeper connection between the Palace, its history and its natural treasures.