Join free Community Open Week events at Kew Gardens this May

Annual free community festival runs 14-18 May, this year is a celebration of Trees
5 days of free taster sessions, experiencing Kew’s Community Access and Learning Programmes
Community groups and individuals who face barriers to visit are invited to sign up now

Kew Gardens is once again offering free entry to its UNESCO World Heritage Site in London during Community Open Week (14-18 May 2025). Community groups and individuals who ordinarily face barriers to visiting are invited to sign up for this year’s Community Open Week, which will offer an array of free taster sessions from Kew’s Community Access and Learning Programmes, with hands-on activities, talks and performances taking place across the spectacular spring Gardens. For 2025, the theme of the event is aligned to the wider Summer 2025 visitor programme of Trees, encouraging participants to explore the connections between trees, the environment and communities.

Events include:

Plants for the Future- Join Kew’s Head of Tree Collections, Kevin Martin, to learn more about the plants that are suited to a changing climate. This talk will explore sustainable canopy cover and the species that can offer enhanced benefits to urban landscapes, followed by a Q&A.
Kew community art project - Play your part in the creation of a community textile artwork for an upcoming exhibition at Kew Gardens. Led by artists Becca Smith and Kate Turnbull, join in this participatory activity to explore trees as both the source of our clothing and as a vital part of a sustainable future.
Tree-mendous Trees Family Crafts - Create your own 3D tree inspired by the four seasons and the awesome trees and wildlife found at Kew.
Meet Kew’s Tree Gang - Join Kew arboriculturists to find out how they assess a tree’s health. Hear about some of the ways they care for Kew’s iconic tree collection (consisting of over 11,000 trees), followed by a Q&A.
Trees of the Caribbean - Join Duke Baysee to discover more about the amazing trees and fruit of the Caribbean.
Sound Minds at Kew - Celebrate the mental health benefits of art, music and nature by joining this special performance in the Temperate House.
British Sign Language tour - Learn about Kew’s amazing plants, history and science on a British Sign Language tour.
Sensory tours - Discover Kew through touch, sounds and smell on a guided sensory tour.

Kew’s Community Open Week invites communities to learn more about Kew Gardens and its Community Access and Learning Programmes. Now in its sixth year, Kew’s Community Open Week has previously welcomed over 15,000 people into the Gardens for free, offering access to green space, and learning about Kew’s science and conversation work through hands on activities.

Konnie Huq, Kew Ambassador and TV presenter said: “Community Open Week has become a phenomenally popular event and Kew Gardens, and it’s one which offers a much-needed opportunity for people who may not otherwise be able to enjoy time in nature and get some hands-on experience of the vital work which goes on at Kew. From arts and crafts to performances and talks, there’s so much to see and do as part of this year’s programme, and I hope everyone who visits enjoys all that there is on offer.”

An attendee of Community Open Week 2024 reflects: “Thank you for the Community Open Week... I cannot afford to come to Kew, but being at Kew today has uplifted me and helped my emotional wellbeing. I am inspired to do some art based on the palms in the Temperate House.”

Julia Willison, Head of Learning and Participation at RBG Kew said: “The Community Access Scheme at Kew Gardens offers a year-round opportunity to engage with nature for people who would otherwise be unable to visit the Gardens, and we’re always keen to encourage more people to join. Our annual Community Open Week is a fantastic way for visitors to experience a range of free taster sessions and find out more about our work in horticulture and science. Through this year’s programme of events we’ll be celebrating the wonder of trees and recognising the vital role they play in our health and wellbeing.”

Community Open Week runs from 14 – 18 May at Kew Gardens. Thursday 15 May is designed for visitors who need a calmer environment and for those who are planning to attend specific activities due to accessibility requirements.

All events are open to community groups new to Kew Gardens and existing Community Access Scheme members. There is no pre-booking required for the activities, but the activities are subject to availability. Community groups attending Community Open Week are free to explore the gardens independently and can also get creative with a range of self-guided activities and resources, including scavenger hunts, art packs and more.

To find out how to sign up, please visit: https://www.kew.org/learning/community-and-access/community-open-week. Kew’s Community Access Scheme is a group annual membership for organisations that give support to people experiencing barriers to visiting Kew. For more information please visit: Community Access Scheme at Kew | Kew

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For more information, please contact PR@kew.org

Notes to Editors

About Kew’s Community and Access Learning Programmes
In 2024, Kew’s Community and Access Learning Programmes reached 24,903 individuals through practical activities. This included hands-on gardening at the Kew community allotments, creative activities to learn about Kew Science and accessible tours and well-being sessions.

In 2023 to 2024, 457 community groups joined the Community Access Scheme, enabling 13,804 people to visit the Gardens.

Activities are targeted at highly under-served audiences who face barriers to engaging with Kew. Recent examples include:

• a reminiscence project for older people with dementia, from African Caribbean backgrounds, in partnership with Nubian Life.

• a music programme for people with mental health difficulties, in partnership with the Wellbeing and Recovery College (West London NHS Trust)

• Discover Horticulture courses for groups supporting refugee and homeless communities including Micro Rainbow and St Mungos

About the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With Kew’s world-leading research, global partnerships, and beloved Gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi –Kew is using its trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity, Kew relies on the critical support of its visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world-famous scientific and horticultural institution and conservation charity, whose mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the wellbeing of people and the future of all life on Earth. It is internationally respected for its outstanding collections, horticultural and scientific expertise in plant and fungal diversity, conservation, and sustainable development in the UK and around the globe. Kew Gardens, with its 132 hectares of historic, landscaped gardens, is also a major attraction for international and London visitors alike. Dating back to 1759, the site has a rich history and was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003. Combined visitor numbers with Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, total over 2.5 million per year. 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 receives approximately one third of its funding from the UK Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils, with the remaining two thirds coming from supporters, sponsors, memberships, and commercial activity including ticket sales. This enables RBG Kew to carry out its vital scientific and educational work. For tickets and membership options, please visit our website. Since implementing a new accessibility scheme for those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Legacy Benefits, Kew has welcomed over 100,000 visitors with £1 tickets across both UK sites.