August at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst
Release date: 12 July 2023
- Horticultural highlights include Kew’s Mediterranean Garden and the Waterlily House.
- At Wakehurst, highlights in the gardens include the Walled Garden and Iris Dell.
- Rooted at Wakehurst celebrates the incredible world of trees with eight bespoke outdoor installations taking over the gardens.
- Wakehurst Summer Nights sees the gardens come alive after hours with live music, performances, wood-fire cooking and botanical cocktails.
- Short courses include gardening for beginners, forest bathing, willow weaving and charcoal making at Wakehurst.
Kew Gardens
Horticultural highlights
Horticultural highlights on display at Kew Gardens across the month include incredible displays in the Waterlily House, featuring Victoria boliviana, recognised in 2022 as the largest waterlily in the world. Elsewhere, the Mediterranean Garden incorporates a host of new planting for late summer, and is the perfect picturesque picnic spot.
At Wakehurst, visitors can stroll down the peaceful Water Gardens boardwalk, taking in the stunning surroundings, and admire a dramatic valley vista from the Westwood Viewpoint. The six-acre American Prairie is in bloom, with a sea of spectacular flowers on display as this special landscape transforms into a celebration of biodiversity.
-min (1).jpg.webp?itok=DslxohiQ "Victoria boliviana in Kew’s Princess of Wales Conservatory © RBG Kew")
The Wander Project: Now open for summer 2023
This summer, Kew Gardens invites visitors to take part in The Wander Project, a unique series of trails encouraging people to explore the great outdoors and enjoy spending time in nature against the stunning backdrop of Kew’s 320-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whether visitors see themselves as Adventurers, Wanderers, Protectors, Dreamers or Time Travellers, they are guided through trails by a mix of inspiring leaders including Ben Okri, Clara Amfo, Clover Hogan, Dara McAnulty, Ella Saltmarshe, Ellie Goulding, Fearne Cotton, James Miller, Judy Ling Wong, Kate Raworth, Love Ssega, Mya-Rose Craig, Sam Lee, SERAFINE1369, Shiraz Bayoo and Tori Tsui.
All the flowers are for me and Plants of the Qur’ān | Entry included in admission
Now open in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, brand-new art exhibitions All the flowers are for me and Plants of the Qur’ān. Acclaimed artists Anila Quayyum Agha and Sue Wickison present new works exploring themes of faith and cultural exchanges. This tandem exhibition showcases stunning contemporary sculptural work alongside intricate botanical paintings. Gallery Six is also showcasing The wonderful world of water plants, featuring an array of works from the Shirley Sherwood Collection.
Wellbeing at Kew
Kew’s popular wellbeing events return this month, and include the first ever Pilates and intuitive dance sessions at Kew. Supporting both physical and mental wellbeing, all wellbeing events take place within the inspiring surroundings of Kew Gardens’ 320-acre UNESCO World Heritage site. All tickets include entry to Kew Gardens and a 20% discount in our restaurants.
Forest bathing | 5, 12 and 26 August | 10.30am - 1.30pm | Arboretum
Inspired by the Japanese art of Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing is a sensory woodland walk alongside an expert guide, who will lead participants as they disconnect from the stresses of everyday life. Organised in partnership with the Forest Bathing Institute.
Temperate House Yoga | 9 and 19 August | 7.45am - 9am | Temperate House
These one-hour vinyasa flow sessions are held in the spectacular Temperate House. Enjoy pre-opening classes in the midst of 10,000 rare and endangered plants, led by Anil Jangi, Kew’s own yoga instructor.
Sound baths in nature | 1 and 14 August | 4pm- 5pm | Nash Conservatory
Listen to the calming sounds of a variety of gongs, singing bowls and gentle percussion in a therapeutic sonic experience for relaxation and wellbeing. Rebalance yourself with sound at Kew Gardens in these sessions led by Jez Smith.
Intuitive Dance | 15 August | 7pm – 8pm | Lawns by the Joseph Banks Building
In this fast-moving world, disconnect from your everyday life and enjoy a wellbeing session with a difference. Be guided on a journey of breathwork, dance, qigong, and a period of meditative stillness to help you feel inner freedom.
Sound bath in nature: Special editions | 22 and 23 August | 6.30pm – 7.30pm | Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art
Relax and unwind with a restorative sound bath in the unique and beautiful setting of Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art’s latest exhibition All the Flowers Are for Me. Enjoy a private viewing followed by a soothing sound bath to switch off and melt away the day’s stresses.
Pilates | 30 August | 10 – 11am | Nash Conservatory
Tone your body in our historic 19th century Nash Conservatory with our special Pilates sessions. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood our spacious conservatory with natural daylight, bringing you relaxing views of the Gardens.
Kew publishing book of the month | Botanical art to cut out and collage
Scissors and glue stick at the ready... inject a wealth of botanical beauty into your creative projects with this sumptuous collection of images from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew archive. Whether you're looking for vintage botanical ephemera to enhance your journal or scrapbook pages; want to make your own collage art; or simply have a range of botanical elements at your fingertips for gift-wrapping, card-making, vision-boarding and more - this stunning collection will give you over 500 images to cut out and create with, in whatever way you choose.
Theatre on Kew
This summer, Sixteenfeet Productions bring their unique style of site-specific theatre to Kew Gardens with a charming production of Alice in Wonderland, adapted by Bradley Cole, with music by Guy Holden.
Alice in Wonderland | Wednesday - Sunday throughout August at 11am and 2pm, Monday 28 August at 11am and 2pm | Day entry to Kew Gardens included with ticket
Journey down the rabbit hole and enter a fantastical world inhabited by curiouser and curiouser characters. Join Alice as she searches for a way home meeting the disappearing Cheshire Cat, the beautifully dressed Mad Hatter, and the bad-tempered Queen of Hearts who is busy painting the roses red.
Kew the movies
As the end of August approaches, soak up the last of the summer holidays with five days of alfresco cinema magic, as Kew the Movies returns. Produced in partnership with The Luna Cinema, the UK’s number one outdoor cinema providers, Kew the Movies offers families and film fans the opportunity to enjoy an incredible array of screenings within the magical surroundings of Kew Gardens’ 320-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Frozen sing-a-long (PG) | 30 August | 2.30pm
Avatar: The Way of Water (12A) | 30 August | 7pm
Moana (PG) | 31 August | 11am
Strange World (PG) | 31 August | 2.30pm
Everything Everywhere All at Once | 31 August | 7.30pm
Encanto Sing-a-long (U) | 1 September | 11am
Jumanji : Welcome to the Jungle (12A) | 1 September | 2.30pm
The Greatest Showman Sing-a-long | 1 September | 7.30pm
Minions: The Rise of Gru | 2 September | 11am
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical | 2 September | 2.30pm
Top Gun: Maverick | 2 September | 7.30pm
Paddington | 3 September | 11am
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish | 3 September | 2.30pm
Star Wars: A New Hope | 3 September | 6pm
Wakehurst
Horticultural highlights
At Wakehurst, the Iris Dell is springing into life with vibrant purple hues transforming the peaceful oasis at the heart of the Water Gardens. Elsewhere, a wonderful expression of the English Country Garden style can be found in the Walled Garden, Wakehurst’s most intimate space full of soft, subtle colours. Venture out to woodlands of world to find dappled shade and peaceful glades.
 (1).jpg.webp?itok=7fTW4HhP "Wakehurst Iris Dell, Visual Air © RBG Kew")
Events
Rooted | Friday 7 July – Sunday 17 September | 10am – 6pm | Free with entry
This summer, experience a range of striking art installations inspired by trees. Uncover the phenomenal power of woodland wonders as you walk through the gardens. The next Nature Heroes badge will also be up for grabs, as children can take part in the Tree Champion mission.
Tree Adventures | 5 to 10 August | 10.30am - 4pm | Tree climbing: £25 for one hour, Zip wire: £10 for 30 minutes
Peer down at the woodland floor and see what the squirrels see or fly through the sky between trees like a bird would on our tree climbing or zip wiring activities. Tree climbing is suitable for ages 6+, zip wiring is for ages 4-8 only.
Planet Wakehurst | All day | Free with entry
Experience the UK’s largest outdoor art installation, as the impressive Planet Wakehurst photomontage wraps the Mansion, which is undergoing restoration. The 1500m2 canvas, showcases the wealth of biodiversity at Wakehurst and will be up for all to enjoy. Experience a new view of the gardens on our Canopy Walk, 33ft up!
Wakehurst workshops
Yoga morning | Friday 11, 18 & 25 August | 10am - 11am | £25 or £22.50 for Wakehurst and Kew members
Enjoy an hour of yoga in the tranquil landscape of our wild botanic garden. Learn more about yogic philosophy and experience an all-encompassing yoga practice. Suitable for all levels, the session will be led by yoga instructor, Olive, who trained in India and teaches across Sussex.
Exhibitions
Surviving or Thriving: An exhibition on plants and us | Daily, 10am – 3.30pm | Millennium Seed Bank | Included with entry
This exhibition brings Kew’s State of the World’s Plants reports to life, telling the story of why some plants are only surviving, while others are thriving. Through film, audio, models, and a futuristic garden, explore the challenges that plants face and discover the vital role of fungi too.
ENDS
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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 over 30,000 visitors with £1 tickets.
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 25 2021 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.