Australia Landscape: Kew at the British Museum

Thu 21 April - Sun 16 October 2011

Experience an Australia landscape in the heart of London as Kew transforms the forecourt of the British Museum from April to October 2011.

The Museum's forecourt will, for the fourth time, be transformed by Kew.

Kew is pleased to be working with the British Museum on our fourth landscape project. 2011 will see a glimpse of the fragile, threatened and strikingly beautiful flora of Australia in the heart of London.

Professor Stephen Hopper, Director, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

About the landscape

From the centre of London, embark on a journey across a whole continent, from eastern Australia’s coastal habitat, through the arid red centre, to the western Australian granite outcrop featuring unique and highly endangered plants. The interpretation will highlight approximately 12 'star' plants in the landscape and make connections between the habitat and the British Museum's collection. It will also highlight Kew's work in Australia and links between the British Museum, Kew and global communities.

The Australia Landscape is the fourth landscape in a five-year partnership programme involving the British Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which celebrate the shared vision of both institutions to strengthen cultural understanding and support biodiversity conservation across the world.

Plants in the landscape

This year's landscape showcases the rich biodiversity of Australia, and how these fragile systems are under threat from land usage and climate change. This is particularly important as Australia has one of the world’s greatest concentrations of geographically restricted species (known as endemics). 90% of Australian plants are only found in Australia.

Swathes of strongly coloured Swan river daisies (Brachyscome iberidifolia) and Everlastings (Rhodanthe) will add colour throughout the landscape that will also feature the quirkily named tall kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos flavidus).

Australia Landscape blog: Get the latest updates | Browse the star plants