What’s on this September at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst

Kew Gardens 

Wine Walks 

Wednesday 6 September | From 5pm | Time slots every 30 minutes from 5pm to 7.30pm | Botanical Brasserie

Wine Walks, a unique new event held in partnership with Laithwaites Wine, offers unique guided tours across some of Kew’s most spectacular scenery, along with the opportunity to sample a selection of delicious wines from around the world.  

Starting with a sparkling rosé and pinot noir in the aromatic Rose Garden before moving on to Italian wines from the new Kew Series in the tranquillity of the Mediterranean Garden, the tour will encompass some of Kew’s most magical multisensory spaces. Sample tropical New World wines in the Temperate House, the world’s largest Victoria glasshouse, before rounding off the tour with a classic Bordeaux at the Pavilion Bar & Grill, where you can soak up the evening sunshine under the vines with a delicious selection of cheese and charcuterie. Wine will also be available to purchase to enjoy on the night or take home. 

All the Flowers are for Me and Plants of the Qur’ān | Entry included in admission

Art exhibitions All the Flowers are for Me and Plants of the Qur’ān in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art must end 17 September. Acclaimed artists Anila Quayyum Agha and Sue Wickison present new works exploring themes of faith and cultural exchanges and this tandem exhibition showcases stunning contemporary sculptural work alongside intricate botanical paintings. A special Plants of the Qur’ān: In Conversation event, with Sue Wickison and Dr Shahina Ghazanfar will take place on Thursday 14 September.

Gallery Six is also showcasing The Wonderful World of Water Plants, featuring an array of works from the Shirley Sherwood Collection.  

Queer Nature in the Temperate House | Entry included in admission 

From 30 September – 29 October, celebrate the diversity and beauty of plants and fungi with an inspiring new festival, Queer Nature, at Kew Gardens. Step inside Kew’s iconic Temperate House to discover a large-scale suspended artwork and a living horticultural installation which explores the amazing world of plants and fungi. 

The Nash Sessions 

The Morassi Quartet | 21 September | 6.30pm – 9pm | Nash Conservatory  

Join us for an enchanting candlelight concert in the Nash Conservatory at Kew – a magical setting for an end of summer soiree with friends and family. The first in the series of the Nash Sessions will welcome The Morassi Quartet, astring quartet who combine traditional classical works of composers including Mozart, Debussy, and John Williams, with well-loved popular songs by the likes of Adele, ABBA, and The Beatles

Short Courses 

Why not sign up for a short course at Kew? Led by a selection of experts, these one-day courses offer unique opportunities to develop fresh skills within the stunning surroundings of Kew’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

Frame weaving from waste workshop | 26 September | 10.30am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 4pm | Nash Conservatory 

Learn the basics and develop your own distinctive voice as a weaver in this 2-hour masterclass. You will receive a thorough  grounding in frame weaving, including tutorials in foundational weaving skills, such as warping, basic weaving techniques and patterns, and finishing techniques. Turn your household waste textiles from old T-shirts to pillowcases into textile masterpieces! 

Coming Soon: Petrichor by Mat Collishaw 

A new exhibition of work from celebrated contemporary artist Mat Collishaw comes to the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art from 20 October 2023. Drawing on an array of evocative imagery from the natural world, this exhibition will feature sculptural installations, using a variety of pioneering techniques to explore the relationship between the natural world, art history, and how representations of nature in art can impact the way in which we see the world around us.

Events  

Rooted | Running until 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 is up for grabs, as children can take part in the Tree Champion mission.  

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 

Forest Bathing | Saturday 2 September | 10am – 1pm and 2pm - 5pm | £22.50, or £20 for Wakehurst and Kew members 

Reconnect with nature and unwind from the stresses of everyday life in this forest bathing workshop. Based on the Japanese art of Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing allows you to slow down as you immerse yourself in the forest environment. 

Wild food walk | Saturday 9 September | 10am – 1pm and 2pm - 5pm | £42, or £37.80 for Wakehurst and Kew members 

Take part in a guided wild food walk through Wakehurst’s wild landscape. Explore the gardens with professional forager, Sarah Watson of Wild Feast, and find out what delicious foods you can forage this season. 

Self care day | Saturday 30 September | 9.30am - 4.30pm | £65, or £58.50 for Wakehurst and Kew members 

Discover guided meditation, and learn about negative and positive energy, cleansing, grounding, and protecting yourself on a day-to-day basis. Experience nature therapy, providing the skills to awaken and connect senses to nature. 

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.