Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden(嘉道理農場暨植物園), formerly known as Kadoorie Experimental and Extension Farm (嘉道理試驗及推廣農場), or shortly Kadoorie Farm (嘉道理農場) is a farm originally set up for aiding poor farmers in the New Territories in Hong Kong. It later shifted its focus to promote conservation and biodiversity in Hong Kong and South China. On 20 January 1995, the Legislative Council of Hong Kong passed an Ordinance that established the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden Corporation.

Located at Pak Ngau Shek below Kwun Yum Shan in the central New Territories, the farm was built in a valley with streams, woodlands and terraces in 1956 by Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association.

On 20th January 1995, the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed an Ordinance that established the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden Corporation.

[edit] History

The Kadoorie brothers, Lord Lawrence Kadoorie and Sir Horace Kadoorie, planted the seeds for Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden when they founded the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association in 1951. The aim of association was to encourage the right mental outlook by helping people to help themselves through training, supply of agricultural inputs and interest-free loans. In 1956, the association established an experimental and extension farm at Pak Ngau Shek on the present site as a centre for demonstrating crop production and animal husbandry, improving livestock breeds and training local farmers and Hong Kong based Gurkha soldiers. Special breeds of pigs and chickens were developed which could cope with the local conditions. The result was revitalization, not only of the local economy, but also of the hopes and dreams of the people of the New Territories.

On 20 January 1995, the Legislative Council passed an Ordinance that established the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden Corporation. This opened the door for a new era of flora and fauna conservation, organic agriculture, creative education and a focus on sustainability in Hong Kong. Its mission is to increase the awareness of our relationship with the environment. Its work has also been extended to mainland China since 1998.

The farm is currently led by Andrew McAulay, the grandson and great nephew of the founders Lawrence and Horace Kadoorie.