Years ago when I started going occasionally to the old Thai Temple at East Sheen, not far from Richmond, the monks used occasionally to take their guests to Kew Gardens. I’d never been until two days ago. We have someone staying from Thailand, Kew was mentioned and so on Monday, straight after the meal off we went. What a marvellous place and what a wonderful afternoon.

The picture is of me under a Ginko Biloba that Queen Mary planted in, I think, 1927. It looks like they’re pretty slow growing so the little one that I can see from my window back here at the Forest Hermitage has a long way yet to go.

What a great place is Kew for a forest monk to wander in.