Tony Schilling was Curator of Wakehurst Place, part of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, from 1967 to 1991. He oversaw huge developments there, and restored order with renewed plantings after the devastating storm of 1987. Prior to this appointment, he spent two years in the National Botanic Garden of Nepal (NBG) in Godavari, and was instrumental in the establishment of that garden which had opened in 1962. His ground breaking work at the NBG is continued by a vibrant team of dedicated staff led by Dipak Lamichhane, and his legacy continues to grow, quite literally, with the trees and shrubs he collected that are now in research collections, and preserved plant specimens in herbaria.

Tony Schilling’s remarkable contribution to horticulture and botany in Nepal has recently been recognised by the award of a Certificate of Appreciation by the Government of Nepal’s Department of Plant Resources (Ministry of Forests and Environment) during the celebration of their 59th anniversary and 20th Plant Resources Day. Tony said “I feel deeply touched that the Nepalese people have honoured me in this way, and I am incredibly gratified to know that what started as a small venture, has now matured into a fully-fledged, internationally recognised botanic garden. As far as I know, it’s the only botanic garden in the world which has banned the use of plastic, showing the rest of the world where to follow.”

RBGE staff recently worked with Dipak and his team to create the Biodiversity Education Garden at the NBG. Tony’s advice and guidance about the garden at which he had worked 50 years earlier was invaluable to us as horticulturists. We visited his home in Ullapool and he told us about the soil, the growth rates and pest and plant problems he encountered at Godavari, which lies 16 km outside the capital of Nepal, at the foot of the highest mountain in the Kathmandu Valley. He had some entertaining reminiscences about leopards in his house and affectionate accounts of staff long gone. He also gave us a historical and horticultural perspective on a garden that we were coming to know as well as our own. All this information was invaluable to us as we made a successful space for Nepal’s citizens. Crucially, he advised which Nepalese species would grow well and which would not. All gardens have successes and failures when they are first establishing and species choice is the key to success. Today visitor numbers to NBG have increased beyond all expectation. The Garden is a resource for schools, to teach about plant science, and a place for the residents of urbanised Kathmandu to relax, watch birds and enjoy plants.

Tony has undertaken numerous botanical expeditions in Nepal and other mountainous regions of the world. At RBGE we see reminders of his collections on the labels of plants every day, in all four gardens. He wrote an entertaining and informative account of his life and horticultural adventures in a five-part series ‘The Mountains are My Garden’ in Hortus 114 – 118, The Bryansground Press and these are well worth a read. Copies are available in the RBGE Library and from Hortus A Gardening Journal.

A Profile of NBG including more information on Tony Schilling’s input there and the Biodiversity Education Garden is available to read in Sibbaldia The International Journal of Botanic Garden Horticulture 15 9–30, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. It can be found online here: Garden Profile: National Botanic Garden of Nepal
Chris Mathias
I knew Tony Schilling when I first started to work in Sussex. Loved n Balcombe and used to walk across to Wakehurst to see hi. What he did not know about rhodedendrums was not worth knowing
I would be interested to make contact again, if he is so inclined, in which case would appreciate it if you could send me his email address
My email address is below
Many thanks
Chris Mathias
Kate Hughes
Thanks Chris,
I will pass your details on to Tony.
Kate Hughes.
Jill Jeffery
Tony is my cousin/god parent. I haven’t seen him for goodness knows how long. I remember us ( my mum, dad and younger brother) visiting him in Wakehurst Place where he lived. I often wonder how he is. Please, if possible, send my regards. Jill.
Teresa Burton (Turner)
Hi there
When I was a chid I lived at Wakehurst Place Farm and we knew Tony for several years. I remember many adventures around the botanical gardens and even once convincing Tony (well at least I thought that I did 😉 ) there were bears in the forest. I would love to make contact with Tony. Please can you pass my details onto him.
James Balcombe
Tony was a great help to me and friend to me when I was setting out as a gardener/horticulturist some 25years ago!
Remember some very happy time both in Sussex especially “Shergolds” and his wonderful home up in Ullapool.
Tony is truly a “gardener of the mountains”
James Balcombe (Beijing China)
Robert Szembek
I worked as herdsman on Home Farm, Wakehurst Place in 1968/69. During that time, I knew Tony well. We had a shared interest in classical music. He would recount some of his experiences in Nepal. He had a great sense of humour and a sharp wit, though this was always restrained when he was with the garden staff. He said he had an “image” to maintain!
I remember an occasion when Patsy, (the farm donkey) escaped from her paddock one night and proceeded to the plant nursery, and bit the tops off some of the carefully nurtured specimens growing there. I can not recall how much damage was done, but understandably Tony was not amused.
I left Wakehurst and returned to Devon very early in the New Year of 1970 to fulfil my ambition of getting a dairy farm of my own. Over 50 years later, I am still here, though we no longer milk cows.
I regret that I never kept in touch with Tony, but it is good to see he has received well deserved recognition for a life times work in his specialist field.
Please pass my very best wishes on to him, and my email address as well if appropriate.
Robert Szembek
Kate Hughes
Hello Robert,
Tony does not use email and I have passed your message on to him.
Steven Schilling
Hi Kate .. my name is Elaine and I’m the partner of Tony’s son Steve Schilling . We have loved reading the above comments and would happily pass on any requests. Tony is an avid writer (as you say a technophobe) and I’m sure he would certainly the old fashioned way. We speak daily so happy to pass on any information.