Press Release

Spring is about to erupt at Kew Gardens -- no matter what the weather -- with two special events.

A country garden has been planted in Kew’s “state-of-the-art” glasshouse, the Princess of Wales Conservatory. From late January and throughout February a galaxy of flowers will remind visitors of the joy of spring and summer months to come. The display is also a reminder that Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank opens later this year at Wakehurst Place in Sussex where one of the objectives is the storing of seeds from all British flowering species.

Secondly, Kew’s Orchid Festival 2000 opens on 12 February and continues, with thousands of exotic blooms on display, until Mothers' Day, 2 April.

There are some 25,000 wild species of these amazing plants, and Kew’s collection is the most diverse on Earth. The Festival will offer spectacular beauty while supporting Kew’s work on this fascinating family.

Among the special events in the gardens are exotic flower arrangements from 12 February until 5 March, courses for beginners and experienced growers, guided tours, a display of orchid paintings, and the opportunity to buy plants, cut flowers and a range of products with an orchid theme.

For further information about these and other press releases please contact:

The Public Relations Section,
Education and Marketing Department,
The Royal Botanic Gardens,
37 Kew Green, Kew,
Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, UK

Tel: +44 (0)181 332 5607
email:pr@rbgkew.org.uk