Lilian Clarke facts for kids

Lilian Clarke (born on January 27, 1866, and died on February 12, 1934) was an amazing botany teacher. She taught at James Allen's Girls' School in Dulwich, South London. She worked there from 1896 to 1926. During her time, she created special botanical gardens. These gardens became famous as 'The Botany Gardens'.

Early Life and Education

Lilian Clarke was born in 1866. Her father, Benjamin Clarke, was a kind person who helped others. When Lilian was 19, she won a gold medal. This was for her studies in botany. She learned a lot at the Chelsea Physic Garden.

She earned her science degree (BSc) in 1893. She studied botany at University College London. Her teacher there was Professor F.W. Oliver.

Lilian Clarke became a member of the Linnean Society of London. This happened between 1904 and 1905. She was one of the first women to join this important group. She also worked with the British Science Association. From 1921 to 1926, she was the secretary for their education section.

In 1917, Lilian Clarke received a special Doctor of Science degree. The University of London gave it to her. This was for her ideas on teaching botany. She developed these ideas at James Allen's Girls' School.

The Botany Gardens: An Outdoor Classroom

The Botany Gardens were like an outdoor science lab. They were the first of their kind at a school in the UK. Students could watch plants grow and see how they were pollinated. Lilian Clarke wanted her students to learn by doing. She encouraged them to make their own books instead of using textbooks.

Later, school exams started focusing on how plants live in their environment, called ecology. This was instead of just knowing plant types. So, Clarke made new garden areas. She had help from a famous ecologist, Arthur Tansley. These new areas showed examples of British habitats. They included places like a salt marsh and a pebble beach.

William Hales, the curator of Chelsea Physic Garden, also helped Clarke. He was in charge of the Chelsea Physic Garden from 1899 to 1937. Clarke wrote about his help in her book. The book was called The Botany Gardens Of The James Allen's Girls' School, Dulwich: Their History And Organisation. The London Board of Education published it.

Plants in the Pond Area

Clarke described the plants around the pond in her gardens. She wrote:

Forget-Me-Knots, Brooklime, Musk, Water-Mint, Yellow Iris, Water Plantain, Arrowhead, etc. A little farther in are partially submerged plants such as Water Lilies, Floating Pondweed, and totally submerged plants such as Elodea. Some of the pond plants were given by Mr. Hales, Curator of the Chelsea Physic Garden, to whom many thanks are due for valuable help in designing the pond and in other matters.

Clarke said the pond was a big success. It was very helpful for their lessons. She also wrote that the gardens became "out-of-door laboratories." This meant that learning inside and outside was connected.

Lilian Clarke talked with other plant experts. She worked hard to share her ideas with the wider science community. She passed away in a nursing home on February 12, 1934.