What's on at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst this August

Release date: 15 July 2021

  • Details of Kew’s forthcoming Japan Festival announced
  • Live performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Wind in the Willows in Kew’s magical landscape
  • Wakehurst’s Summer of Sound Festival continues
  • Kew open until 7pm weekdays and 8pm weekends for visitors to enjoy
  • Kew’s Secret World of Plants Festival continues
  • Horticultural highlights across Kew and Wakehurst include native wildflowers, roses and dahlias, as well as stunning seasonal planting

Kew Gardens

Japan Festival

From October, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew invites visitors to immerse themselves in the art, plants and culture of Japan with a brand-new autumn festival. The Japan festival, supported by Daikin UK, will run from Saturday 2 October to Sunday 31 October 2021 in Kew’s majestic Temperate House, the world’s largest surviving Victorian glasshouse. Find out more here.

Theatre on Kew

‘Theatre on Kew’ returns this summer with The Wind in the Willows as well as the first ever evening theatre in Kew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed by the Australian Shakespeare Company. Bringing much-loved characters to life within Kew’s magical landscapes, including the Main Lake and Berberis Dell, these productions promise enchantment and escapism for audiences of all ages. 

 

The Wind in the Willows

Sundays & Wednesdays throughout August | 10.30am

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays throughout August | 10.30am and 2pm

30th August | 10.30am and 2pm

*no performance on 31st August

 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Weekday evenings throughout August until Sunday 29th* | 8pm

*no performances on Mondays, 10th, 11th and 31st August

Enjoy Summer Evenings at Kew

As the summer evenings continue, Kew is open to enjoy until 7pm on weekdays and at weekends until 8pm. With acres of beautiful botanic gardens, including the fragrant Rose Garden, Great Broad Walk Borders, tranquil Mediterranean Garden and shady Cedar Vista to explore, visitors are welcome to grab their picnic blankets, and enjoy eating al fresco across Kew’s 320 acres, or simply make the most of catching up with friends and family on a picturesque stroll around the gardens. Images are available here.

Secret World of Plants 

The Secret World of Plants continues to bloom at Kew throughout August. The immersive summer festival explores ‘what plants really mean to you?’ by embracing the wonderful world of plant biodiversity through newly commissioned interactive art installations using music, sound and colour. At the centre of the festival are six huge ‘plantscapes’ celebrating British biodiversity and warning of the fragility of these plants, as well as the myriad of other wildlife which they support. Images are available here.

Naturally Brilliant Colour 

Naturally Brilliant Colour continues at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art. This groundbreaking exhibition presents the brightest hues ever seen to visitors for the first time, and features a stunning spectrum of artwork, including an immersive kaleidoscope featuring Pure Structural Colour, created by Lifescaped lab to replicate the boldest colours seen in nature. Images are available here.

Wellbeing at Kew 

Wellbeing events at Kew throughout August include pilates, cycling, Temperate House yoga and Forest bathing, all supporting physical and mental wellbeing within the unique and inspiring surroundings of Kew Gardens in the summer.

Summer Cycle | 10th & 11th August | 5pm – 8.30pm | Cyclists entry via Elizabeth Gate | £20 adult, £10 child

Temperate House Yoga | 9th, 15th, 18th, 28th & 29th August| 7.30am – 8.45am | Temperate House | £45 (includes entry to Kew Gardens and 20% discount in our restaurants)

Pilates | 2nd & 16th August | 10.30am – 11.30am & 3pm – 4pm | | Nash Conservatory | £40 (includes entry to Kew Gardens and 20% discount in our restaurants)

Forest bathing | 4th, 8th, 11th & 28th August| 10.30am – 1pm | Arboretum | £60 (includes entry to Kew Gardens and 20% discount in our restaurant)

Wakehurst 

Summer of Sound at Wakehurst 

Throughout August, Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, will be brought to life by a symphony of sounds. Six striking large-scale installations situated across the landscape will delicately and playfully inspire a greater connection to nature, with Wakehurst’s natural noises amplified and explored by artists including Kathy Hinde, Marco Barotti and Birgit Õigus. Summer of Sound: After Hours also runs from 12th- 15th August from 6pm – 9pm. Images are available here.

Workshops at Wakehurst 

This month, Wakehurst hosts a wide range of events for adults and children alike. Activities include badger and bat watching, as well as storytelling and music workshops, allowing visitors to connect with the wild surroundings of Wakehurst in new and exciting ways.


For adults (18+):

Badger watching evenings | 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st August | 7.15pm – 9pm | Loder Valley Nature Reserve | £18

Led by Loder Valley Nature Reserve Warden, Steven Robinson, badger watching at Wakehurst allows visitors to watch these enigmatic animals as they forage, eat and play in the stunning landscape of Wakehurst at dusk.
 

Botanical perfume for wellbeing | 7th August | 10.30am – 1pm & 2pm- 4.30pm | £50 (includes day entry to the gardens and car parking

A hands-on workshop which allows visitors to create their own wellbeing perfume and learn about the power of natural scent in promoting wellbeing.


Nature wellbeing and mindfulness | 8th August | 10.30am – 4.30pm | Wakehurst woodlands | £40 (includes day entry to the gardens and car parking)

Re-energise and relax within Wakehurst’s tranquil landscape as workshop leader Jim Morgan highlights the practices of nature connection and mindfulness.

 

Woodland bat walk | 23rd & 25th August | 7pm- 9pm | £15 (includes day entry to the gardens and car parking)

Explore Wakehurst after hours with our resident wildlife experts to discover the fascinating world of bats. Suitable for ages 10+.


For children:

 

Seeds, sounds and songs | 2nd – 5th August | 10.30am – 11.10am, 11.30am – 12.10pm & 12.30pm – 1.10pm | £15 per child (one accompanying adult free) | Suitable for children from 1 – 5 years
Music Mike leads an outdoor musical adventure! From creating instruments from the natural surroundings and exploring the sounds we hear in nature, to singing and dancing to new and familiar songs, there’s plenty to keep little ones entertained.

 

World music and beats workshop | 9th – 12th August | 10.30am – 12pm & 1.30pm – 3pm | £20 per child (one accompanying adult free) | Suitable for children from 4 – 11 years
An immersive and organic music-making experience, designed to tap into children’s natural curiosity and intrinsic motivation to explore sound. No musical experience required!

 

Learn to talk to birds | 16th – 19th August | 11am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3pm | | £20 per child (one accompanying adult free) | Suitable for children 6+ years
Bird expert, ecologist and environmental educator Tom Forward, leads a walk with a difference through the woodlands and gardens of Wakehurst.

 

Let’s get lyrical workshop | 23rd – 26th August | 10.30am – 12.30pm & 2pm – 4pm | £20 per child (one accompanying adult free) | Suitable for children 7-10 years and 11-13 years
Singer songwriter Emily Barden invites children to create a group song inspired by the landscape and stories of Wakehurst.
 

Horticultural highlights 

Horticultural highlights on display this month at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst include roses, hydrangeas and the giant Amazonian waterlilies. Wakehurst’s pollination garden is buzzing with life, and Kew’s Great Broad Walk Borders are full of spectacular seasonal planting, including lavender and salvias.

Coming soon 

Christmas at Kew

From Wednesday 17 November to Sunday 9 January, Christmas at Kew, a much-loved highlight of London’s festive calendar, returns for its ninth year. This year’s trail features a host of firm seasonal favourites alongside pioneering new light installations, illuminating Kew Gardens’ UNESCO World Heritage landscape with vibrant bursts of colour and over a million twinkling lights. A celebration of nature by night, and the wonder of biodiversity, this is an enchanting seasonal experience like no other, for visitors of all ages.

What we are doing to keep visitors safe 

The safety and wellbeing of our visitors is of the utmost importance to us and we are continually monitoring and responding to the Covid-19 pandemic as it evolves. We are adhering to government advice in our planning to ensure visitors and staff remain safe while enjoying Kew and Wakehurst. Safety measures will reflect government advice at the time of visiting and will be clearly communicated across RBG Kew’s channels and onsite. All visitors, including Members, must pre-book a ticket and timed slot for entry to Kew Gardens.

For more information, images, or to unsubscribe from this mailing list, please contact the Press Office at pr@kew.org.

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 as well as its scientific expertise in plant diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the world. Kew Gardens is a major international and a top London visitor attraction. Kew Gardens’ 132 hectares of landscaped gardens, and Wakehurst, Kew’s Wild Botanic Garden, 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 Kew's Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world. RBG Kew receives approximately one third of its funding from Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needed to support RBG Kew’s vital work comes from donors, membership and commercial activity including ticket sales.

About Wakehurst

Please note that Wakehurst is referred to just as Wakehurst, not Wakehurst Place. It is not a National Trust property.

Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex is home to the Millennium Seed Bank and over 500 acres of the world’s plants including temperate woodlands, ornamental gardens and a nature reserve. It is situated in the High Weald of Sussex, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and focuses on wild plant collections. The Millennium Seed Bank houses and protects seed from the world’s most substantial and diverse collection of threatened and useful wild plants, making it the most biodiverse place on earth.

RBG Kew receives just under half of its funding from Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needed to support Kew’s vital work comes from donors, membership and commercial activity including ticket sales. 

In March 2021, RBG Kew launched its 10-year strategy Our Manifesto for Change 2021. The institution’s ultimate goal is step up to help to end the extinction crisis and contribute to creating a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. In the wake of a global pandemic, and with the future of the planet in peril, the strategy represents a public commitment by RBG Kew to do everything in its power to reverse the environmental devastation of biodiversity loss and climate change.  The five key priorities are 1) Delivering science-based knowledge and solutions to protect biodiversity and use natural resources sustainably 2) Inspiring people to protect the natural world 3) Training the next generation of experts: 4) Extending our reach 5) Influencing national and international opinion and policy.

On May 25th RBG Kew launched its new Sustainability Strategy – committing to become Climate Positive by 2030 and marking a step-change in our urgent action to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis.