The recently launched ‘Two Dragons Garden’ project aims to foster knowledge and cultural exchange between Wales and China, with support from the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and Botanic Gardens Conservation International.

A range of initiatives under the umbrella of the Two Dragons Garden:

1) Development of Chinese medicinal plants collection at Treborth
Funded by the Confucius Institute, this new collection will promote greater awareness about Chinese cultural uses of plants, attract the Chinese community to Treborth and provide an excellent teaching resource for the new MSc in Plant Conservation.

2) Training programmes for graduates in horticulture and environmental education
This is funded by the British Council with match funding in-kind from Bangor University, XTBG and CUBG. We will develop new training courses in environmental education and horticulture.

3) Exchange of staff and students for research
Sophie Williams is travelling between Bangor and Xishuangbanna frequently. This year students from Wales are to carry out their MSc and undergraduate research projects in China. In October, students from XTBG will go to Treborth to help develop the new Chinese garden.

Prof Chen Jin gives Sam Herinman some feedback on the Two Dragons Garden plan.

Sam developed the garden design with internship funding from the Bangor University Employability award.

Source: http://www.sophiewilliams.org/two-dragons