Community Open Week: Wednesday 22 May 2024

Join us for an exciting line-up of community activities at Kew Gardens.

A man sat at a table wearing gardening gloves and handling soil

The event is open to community groups new to Kew Gardens and existing Community Access Scheme members.

You’ll be free to explore the Gardens independently and take part in scheduled Community Open Week activities.

All Community Open Week activities are subject to availability.

There is no pre-booking required for any activities on this day.

The amazing mycelium network

10.30am to 11:30am 

Suitable for all ages.

Join Maymana Arefin, the founder of 'fungi futures', for a talk on the amazing world of mycelium.

Plant science

Drop-in: 10.30am to 4pm

Suitable for all ages.

Take part in some fun games and activities to learn about the incredible world of plants, developed by Kew Science students.

Kew community exhibition

Drop-in: 10.30am to 4pm 

Suitable for all ages.

Visit an exhibition sharing some of the brilliant artwork created by our regular programme participants.

Roots of Connection: Kew community art project

Drop-in: 10.30am to 4pm 

Suitable for all ages. 

Help create a giant community artwork which will grow before your very eyes! Led by artist Maraid Mcewan, join in this participatory activity to explore networks, nature and creativity.

Self-guided resources

Drop-in: 10.30am to 4pm 

Suitable for all ages.

Explore the Gardens and get creative with a range of self-guided activities and resources, including scavenger hunts, art packs and more.

Shared problems, shared solutions

Drop-in: 10.30am to 4pm 

Suitable for all ages.

We can't solve the climate crisis without disability access. We can't end world hunger without gender equality. Explore how the challenges we face are interconnected and share the solutions that you would like to see.

Worm farm: soil and decomposition

Drop-in: 10.30am to 4pm 

Suitable for all ages. 

Use your hands to explore the amazing world of soil. Play with different textures and learn about the processes that make the ground beneath us so special.

Cut and paste pop-up

Drop-in: 10.30am to 4pm 

Suitable for adults, young people and children aged 7+.

If you could, would you edit your DNA? Where would you draw the line? Join the Francis Crick Institute to explore the ethics of genome editing which can be used to change the DNA of plants, animals and humans.

Grounding nature

Drop-in: 10.30am to 4pm 

Suitable for adults.

Join the Wellbeing and Recovery College for a short grounding meditation, using your senses to feel more present and connected to nature. This technique can be used at any time to invite calmness into your life.

Wood wide web

Drop-in: 12pm to 4pm 

Suitable for all ages.

Join us to explore the secrets of the wood wide web and leave your creative mark on a live installation using yarn, textiles and other recycled materials.

Nature memory mapping

Drop-in: 12pm to 4pm 

Suitable for all ages.

Share your experiences of nature and see how they connect with others through our community memory map.

Unravelling mycorrhizal networks

Drop-in: 12pm to 4pm 

Suitable for adults.

Join us to unearth fantastical, filamentous fungi! See samples of their fruitbodies and explore what makes them fundamental to the functioning of so many ecosystems.