Augustine Henry, horticultural hero from city with two names

Fiann Ó Nualláin charts the life of a doctor, turned plant hunter who also set up the Forestry Commission.

Derry man, Augustine Henry (1857–1930) is a noted plant hunter and educator – hugely influential across Europe and Asia.

He set up the Irish Forestry Commission and developed a system to identify trees by twig shape and angle of bud – so they could be identified in winter, but he is best known for sending over 15,000 plant samples and seed to Kew gardens from his time in China where he served in the Imperial Customs Service as Assistant Medical Officer and Customs Assistant.