What’s on this May at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst
Release date: 19 April 2024
- Marc Quinn: Light into Life opens at Kew Gardens
- Horticultural highlights include beautiful tulips and bluebells as well as spectacular rhododendrons
- Kew Gardens hosts 5th Community Open Week
- Wellbeing events include yoga Kew’s historic Temperate House and sound baths in nature
- 5x15 Art and Nature talk at Kew Gardens
- At Wakehurst, bluebells carpet Bethlehem Wood and late spring colour continues throughout the gardens
Kew Gardens
Marc Quinn: Light into Life | 4 May – 29 September | Entry included in admission
Opening this month at Kew Gardens is a major new exhibition from contemporary artist Marc Quinn. Exploring the relationship between people and plants, Light into Life encompasses monumental sculptures across the Gardens, alongside a dedicated presentation of works in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art. Offering moments of thoughtful reflection and interaction across Kew, Light into Life examines our complex relationship with the natural world and features a selection of brand-new artworks, unveiled for the first time this summer.
Horticultural Highlights: Spring
Horticultural highlights on display this month at Kew Gardens include spectacular rhododendrons in bloom in Rhododendron Dell. Visitors can also enjoy the continuing tulips at the Temperate House, alongside bluebells in the Natural Area.
Community Open Week | 22 – 26 May 2024 | Free to community groups new to Kew Gardens and Community Access Scheme members
Running from 22 to 26 May, this year’s Community Open Week at Kew Gardens provides free taster sessions of Kew’s Community Access and Learning Programmes. Featuring workshops, talks, and games across five days, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the amazing mycelium network, help create a giant piece of art or join a comic book workshop with Kew’s Youth Forum.
Wellbeing at Kew
Kew’s popular wellbeing events return this month, supporting both physical and mental wellbeing within the inspiring surroundings of Kew Gardens’ 320-acre UNESCO World Heritage site. All tickets include entry to Kew Gardens and a 20% discount in our restaurants.
Tai chi | 3, 10, 17 & 24 May (beginners), 31 May (intermediate) | 9am – 10am | Mediterranean Garden
Boost your physical and mental wellbeing with the centuries-old Chinese martial art, ta chi, amidst the tranquil surroundings of Kew’s Mediterranean Garden. Six week courses also available for beginners and intermediate participants.
Forest bathing | 4, 11, 17 & 25 May | 10.30am- 12.30pm | Arboretum
Inspired by the Japanese art of Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing is a sensory woodland walk alongside an expert guide, who will lead participants as they disconnect from the stresses of everyday life. Organised in partnership with the Forest Bathing Institute.
Temperate House Yoga | 14 May, 7pm-8.15pm and 18 May, 7.45am – 9am | Temperate House
This one-hour vinyasa flow sessions are held in the spectacular Temperate House. Enjoy pre-opening classes in the midst of 10,000 rare and endangered plants, led by Anil Jangi, Kew’s own yoga instructor.
Sound baths in nature | 7 & 15 May | 4pm – 5pm | Nash Conservatory
Immerse yourself in the calming sounds of gongs, singing bowls and gentle percussion in a therapeutic sonic experience for relaxation and wellbeing. No previous experience is needed for this expert-led session, making it the perfect opportunity to try a new way of reaching deep meditation and relaxation.
Pilates | 7 & 15 May | 10am – 11am | Nash Conservatory
Tone your body in our historic 19th century Nash Conservatory with our special Pilates sessions. Find mindfulness through pairing breathing exercises with movement; our knowledgeable and friendly Pilates instructor will focus on improving your flexibility, strength, and posture.
Short courses
Why not learn a new skill and sign up for a short course at Kew? Led by a selection of experts, these one-day courses offer unique opportunities to develop fresh skills within the stunning surroundings of Kew’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Organic Gardening | 28 May, 10.30am – 4pm | Nash Conservatory
This course with award-winning tutor and writer Christine Lavelle will teach you how to create your own environmentally-friendly garden. Christine will share hints and tips on composting, fertilisers, companion planting, disease resistant cultivars of fruit and vegetables as well as border design for ornamental gardens to encourage natural predators.
Art and Nature: 5x15 Live at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew | Wednesday 8 May, 6.30pm | Available to watch online
A unique event co-curated with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in the glorious setting of the Orangery, celebrating creativity, imagination and the natural world. Hosted by Rachel Campbell-Johnston, this very special event will feature contributions from Sir Ben Okri, Charlotte Jarvis, Cornelia Parker, Lucia Pietroiusti, Marc Quinn, Love Ssega and Chris Thorogood. Supported by Rathbones in partnership with 5x15.
Kew Publishing Book of the Month | Kew Pocketbooks: Poisonous Plants
From foxglove, deadly nightshade, hemlock and yew to lily of the valley and angel’s trumpet, this Kew Pocketbook is an exploration of some of the most commonplace and dangerous poisonous plants, showcased through 40 stunning paintings from the Kew archives. Producing toxins to defend themselves and often displaying their toxicity in bold colours and patterns, these plants can be harmful and even deadly to humans and animals.
Wakehurst
Horticultural Highlights
Catch the last bluebells, carpeting woodlands across the gardens, and don’t miss the stunning sight of the bold pink azalea in the Iris Dell, as well as a myriad of irises appearing. As late spring arrives, the gardens become greener, lusher and richer, as tree canopies flourish, with maroon maples lining the banks of The Slips.
Events
Nature Heroes: Nature Olympics | 25 May to 2 June | Nature Heroes Mission: £3
The natural world is full of record-breakers! This May Half-term, young adventurers can gain take part in the next Nature Heroes quest, as they compete against plants and fungi from around the world, in Olympic-themed events.
Trees for Bees trail | All day | Free with entry
Visitors can take part in new citizen science study, as they help our pollination experts uncover which trees best support our pollinating insects. Pick up a free guide on arrival, and follow the trail, snapping images of the pollinators you spot.
Planet Wakehurst | All day | Free with entry
Experience the UK’s largest outdoor art installation, as the impressive Planet Wakehurst photomontage wraps the Mansion, which is undergoing restoration. The 1500m2 canvas, showcases the wealth of biodiversity at Wakehurst and will be up for all to enjoy. Experience a new view of the gardens on our Canopy Walk, 33ft up!
Wakehurst Workshops
Forest bathing | 11 and 17 May | 10am to 1pm or 2pm to 5pm | Members: £22.50, non-members: £25
Reconnect with nature and unwind from the stresses of everyday life. Based on the Japanese art of Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing allows you to slow down as you immerse yourself in the forest environment. Swedish teacher and workshop leader Helena Skoog will show you how to use all your senses to connect with your surroundings, drawing on the power of nature to relieve tension, relax and nourish your sense of wellbeing.
Healing sound bath | 4 May | 10am to 11.30am, 12.30 to 2pm and 3pm to 4.30pm | Members: £19.80, non-members: £22
Receive the healing vibrations and sacred sounds of the gongs in our stunning outdoor space in the heart of Wakehurst. This workshop is a chance to relax in a beautiful, quiet space in nature where you will be taken on an inner journey with sound.
Twilight Nature Tour | 11 and 18 May | 5.30pm until dark | Members: £27, non-members: £30
Experience the stirring of nocturnal wildlife as the sun sets and witness the transition from light to darkness as our senses heighten, and sounds and smells become more intense. And experienced ranger will take you on a tour of the woodland trails in our beautiful Loder Valley Nature Reserve, a wild and tranquil landscape. Catch a glimpse of kingfishers and look out for wild badgers to see these fascinating creatures eat, play and forage.
Spring foraging course | 18 May | 10am to 1pm or 2pm to 5pm | Members: £72, non-members: £80
Explore the magical world of spring foraging at the beautiful Wakehurst. Spend the day experiencing all the flavours that spring has to offer from beautiful blossoms to fresh green shoots on this guided foraging walk. Run by professional forager Megan Howlett, learn about the seasonal delights that May brings and how to identify and prepare them yourself at home.
Willow weaving workshops | 24 May | 10.30am to 4.30pm | Members: £80, non-members: £89
Workshop leader Dominic Parrette, a Sussex-based basket maker and willow grower, will guide you through the willow weaving process to help you produce a stunning plant support structure that will look great in your garden.
Exhibitions
Surviving or Thriving: An exhibition on plants and us | Daily, 10am – 3.30pm | Millennium Seed Bank | Included with entry
This exhibition brings Kew’s State of the World’s Plants reports to life, telling the story of why some plants are only surviving, while others are thriving. Through film, audio, models, and a futuristic garden, explore the challenges that plants face and discover the vital role of fungi.
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ENDS
Notes to Editors
About Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world-famous scientific organisation, internationally respected for its outstanding collections and scientific expertise in plant and fungal diversity, conservation, and sustainable development in the UK and around the globe. Kew’s scientists and partners lead the way in the fight against biodiversity loss and finding nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, aided by five key scientific priorities outlined in Kew’s Science Strategy 2021-2025. Kew Gardens is also a major international and top London visitor attraction. Kew’s 132 hectares of historic, landscaped gardens, and Wakehurst, Kew’s Wild Botanic Garden and ‘living laboratory’, attract over 2.5 million visits every year. Kew Gardens was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003 and celebrated its 260th anniversary in 2019. Wakehurst is home to the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world and a safeguard against the disastrous effects of climate change and biodiversity loss. RBG Kew received approximately one third of its funding from Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needs to support RBG Kew’s vital scientific and educational work comes from donors, memberships and commercial activity including ticket sales. For tickets, please visit www.kew.org/kew-gardens/visit-kew-gardens/tickets. In the first six months since implementing a new accessibility scheme for those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Legacy Benefits, Kew has welcomed over 50,000 visitors with £1 tickets.
About Wakehurst
Please note that Wakehurst is referred to just as Wakehurst, not Wakehurst Place. It is not a National Trust property.
Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex is home to the Millennium Seed Bank and over 500 acres of the world’s plants including temperate woodlands, ornamental gardens and a nature reserve. It is situated in the High Weald of Sussex, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and focuses on wild plant collections. The Millennium Seed Bank houses and protects seed from the world’s most substantial and diverse collection of threatened and useful wild plants, making it the most biodiverse place on earth.
RBG Kew receives just under half of its funding from Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needed to support Kew’s vital work comes from donors, membership and commercial activity including ticket sales.
In March 2021, RBG Kew launched its 10-year strategy Our Manifesto for Change 2021. The institution’s ultimate goal is step up to help to end the extinction crisis and contribute to creating a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. In the wake of a global pandemic, and with the future of the planet in peril, the strategy represents a public commitment by RBG Kew to do everything in its power to reverse the environmental devastation of biodiversity loss and climate change. The five key priorities are 1) Delivering science-based knowledge and solutions to protect biodiversity and use natural resources sustainably 2) Inspiring people to protect the natural world 3) Training the next generation of experts: 4) Extending our reach 5) Influencing national and international opinion and policy.
On May 25 2021 RBG Kew launched its new Sustainability Strategy – committing to become Climate Positive by 2030 and marking a step-change in our urgent action to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis.