Press Release

New England to Kew, England

Kew's Autumn Harvest Festival opens on 7 October 2006
Supported by Ocean Spray

Press Preview
11am, 5 October 2006

Journalists are invited to come to the Palm House Pond to witness the finishing touches being put to a display of millions of scarlet red cranberries floated on the water's surface, replicating the New England cranberry harvest.

Enter by Victoria Gate, Kew Road

Journalists will be able to see the spectacular display and wade out into the pond to speak to Ocean Spray cranberry growers all the way from New England about the cranberry harvest as well as speak to Kew's horticultural staff about the festival and even gain some autumn gardening tips for your readers.

Also on view will be the spectacular display of cucurbits in the Waterlily House. 30 tonnes of pumpkins, gourds and squashes will be arranged into a spiralling tower. Learn how these strange looking fruits are cultivated, and the reasons for their use in folklore traditions. Elsewhere, there will be a 6 metre figure of a running man constructed from pumpkins. A selection of different sized pumpkin varieties, including Rocket, Racer and Howden Big Boy, will be cleverly used to carefully create his athletic form. Also discover some of the amazing diversity in apple varieties in a display of over two hundred types , in association with Brogdale, the national fruit collection.

To register for the press preview or for further information please contact the Kew Gardens press office on 020 8332 5607 or email pr@kew.org .

See: Details of Kew's Autumn Festival

FOR more media information please call the Press Office on 01444 894018. msb@kew.org

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