We are shocked and deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death of Dr Donovan (Don) Kirkwood, Curator of the Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden (SUBG) – a close colleague and partner of Cambridge University Botanic Garden (CUBG).
CUBG’s staff who knew and worked with him send their condolences to his family and colleagues.
CUBG’s Curator, Professor Samuel Brockington, who worked closely with Don says:
“We are devastated by the loss of Don. On a personal level I admired him enormously – as a consummate professional, a trusted advocate, a brave botanist and indefatigable conservationist. But most especially, he was a kind and authentic man, who gave generously of himself to our staff, and his many friends and colleagues.
Don’s commitment to protecting South Africa’s rare and endangered plant species was evident in every aspect of his work. And I cannot think of anyone in recent years who has so profoundly influenced my thinking on botanic gardens as Don. It has been a privilege to collaborate with him and the Stellenbosch University Botanical Gardens over the past few years. Our joint expeditions, knowledge and material exchange have been central to our Collections Strategy. We will work hard to ensure his legacy lives on in the partnerships we nurtured together, the knowledge he shared and the ecosystems and species he worked so tirelessly to protect. We will miss him greatly, both professionally and personally.”
SUBG have described Don as a visionary botanist and conservationist whose work has had a lasting impact on the protection of South Africa’s rare flora. His leadership at SUBG helped transform the gardens into a hub for conservation and research, particularly focused on the Cape Floristic Region.
CUBG’s partnership with SUBG, which was formalised by a Memorandum of Understanding in 2022, has been instrumental in advancing the goals of our Living Collections Strategy and its objectives to prioritise wild-collected and diverse plant material to support research, learning and conservation.
We will continue this important work which honours Don’s legacy and the values he championed.
For more information and tributes from the Stellenbosch University community, please visit the Stellenbosch University website.