Learn something new with short courses from Kew Gardens

From growing plants at home to botanical drawing, the short courses at Kew offer something to suit all interests and abilities. Taught by experts on site at Kew Gardens, each short course is facilitated by a leading practitioner, offering participants a unique opportunity to learn something new or hone their skills and knowledge against the backdrop of Kew’s stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Develop new skills

Courses on offer include a Terrarium workshop delivered by the Botanical Boys, demonstrating how to plant up and care for these low-maintenance miniature gardens at home, and Botanical Amigurumi Crocheting Workshops. Led by TOFT founder and designer Kerry Lord and suitable for all abilities, these exclusive workshops will cover creating crochet flowers inspired by the natural landscape at Kew Gardens, and participants can take away their own woolly souvenirs to brighten up their homes all year round!

Other short courses on offer this autumn include a two-day Drawing Pumpkins masterclass on 31^st October and 1^st November, with further exciting courses to be announced shortly.

Botanical illustration

Across the autumn, a range of botanical drawing and illustration courses will allow beginners the opportunity to learn a new skill, and experienced artists the chance to refine their practice. In early September, join botanical artist Lucy Smith for the Fundamentals of botanical illustration, a five-day course exploring the first steps of botanical drawing. October sees the return of the intermediate course for Botanical drawing, allowing experienced artists the opportunity to depict complex subjects, capturing the true essence of a variety of plants. Lucy Smith will also deliver Kew’s popular Botanical pen and ink courses once again this autumn, with tailored sessions available for beginners and intermediate participants, learning more about this renowned technique for producing botanical illustrations for publication.

Online courses

As well as these in-person short courses, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and David & Charles have partnered to deliver a selection of new online learning courses, covering botanical art, herbal remedies and growing plants, available to enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Courses are delivered through a mix of video tuition and downloadable instructions, and you can elect to include a kit of the materials required to complete the projects. New courses now live include Growing Abundant Herbs and Leafy Veg in Pots with Mark Ridsill Smith, and Simple Herbal Preparations at Home with Kim Walker, and coming soon, An introduction to Aromatherapy with Ellen Rowland.

Give the gift of creative learning

Why not give the gift of creative learning at Kew Gardens? Whether you’re looking for a memorable Christmas experience as the festive season approaches, or want to mark a special birthday, anniversary or just say thank you – leave the arrangements to us and we’ll send your loved one a special card with all the details. Just email shortcourses@kew.org to book.

To find out more and book, visit the Short Courses website.

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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 10,000 visitors with £1 tickets.