Enjoy September at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst

Soak up late summer across Kew’s UNESCO World Heritage Site
Final month of Marc Quinn: Light into Life
Last chance to enjoy Meadowland at Wakehurst
Wellbeing events include Forest Bathing and Yoga in the Temperate House

Kew Gardens

Marc Quinn: Light into Life | must end 29 September | Entry included in admission

An art gallery with a glass case in the foreground, containing a white life-size sculpture of a man's head

Entering its final month at Kew Gardens is Light into Life by Marc Quinn. Exploring the relationship between people and plants, the exhibition encompasses monumental sculptures across the Gardens, alongside a dedicated presentation of works in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art. Offering moments of thoughtful reflection and interaction across Kew, Light into Life examines our complex relationship with the natural world and features a selection of brand-new artworks.

Horticultural Highlights- Late Summer

Horticultural highlights on display at Kew Gardens this September include the spectacular displays in the Rose Garden and Agius Evolution Garden, bursting to life with 700 varieties of plant. Elsewhere, visitors can still soak up this year’s stunning display in the Waterlily House.

Wellbeing at Kew

Yoga class inside a greenhouse with colourful yoga mats — Temperate House yoga © RBG Kew

Kew’s popular wellbeing events return this month, supporting both physical and mental wellbeing 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 | 6, 14 & 21 September | 10.30am- 12.30pm | 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.

Tai Chi | 6, 13, 20 & 27 September | 9am - 10am | Berberis Dell

Boost your physical and mental health with the centuries-old Chinese martial art, Tai Chi. Tai Chi is a moderate exercise comprising a series of flowing movements. During the session, learn standing meditation, joint loosening exercise and two traditional Tai Chi movement routines to strengthen your mind and body.

Temperate House Yoga | 7, 19 & 29 September | Temperate House (times vary)

Relax and unwind with one of our monthly early-morning or early-evening yoga sessions in Kew's iconic Temperate House. Led by Kew's own yoga instructor, Anil Jangi, these sessions offer a truly unforgettable yoga experience in the spectacular setting of the world's largest Victorian glasshouse.

Kew Publishing Book of the Month | Great British Elms by Mark Seddon and David Shreeve, with images by Sam Ford

A book cover with an image of a tree on it with the title great british elms

A celebration of the recovery of great British elms in the wake of disease, destruction and death. Illustrated throughout with stunning photography of these beautiful trees, this book is a pictorial and historical record of the elm and offers hope for its future. The book also covers the history of the elm in culture, folklore, art and literature, and the many different varieties of elm growing today in the British Isles.

Wakehurst

Horticultural Highlights

The American Prairie will transform from white to a wash of purple as the blooming asters take centre stage. Be on the lookout for signs of autumn as the first trees start to change colour. Early September will be the last chance to take in Wakehurst‘s stunning meadows before the mowing begins.

Events

Meadowland | Until 10 September | All day | Free with entry

Through the meadows at Wakehurst and four bespoke art installations, immerse yourself in a showcase of the diverse wildflowers, grasses and wildlife that form these precious ecosystems, and be inspired to join us in protecting this rare habitat for future generations. For the first time ever, step into South Park – the 40 acres of ancient parkland which borders our Asian Heath Garden, where wildflower species will bloom in the height of summer.

Trees for Bees trail | All day | Free with entry

Visitors can take part in new citizen science study, as they help our pollination experts uncover which trees best support our pollinating insects. Pick up a free guide on arrival, and follow the trail, snapping images of the pollinators you spot.

Wakehurst Workshops

Meadow Bathing | 8 and 13 September | 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm | £22.50 members, £25 non-members

Based on the Japanese art of Shinrin-yoku, this session allows you to slow down as you immerse yourself in our meadows. Meadows are an expressive landscape, characterful and cyclical. Swedish teacher and workshop leader Helena Skoog will show you how to use all your senses to connect with your surroundings, drawing on the power of nature to relieve tension, relax and nourish your sense of wellbeing.

Forest Bathing | 15 September | 10am to 1pm, 2pm to 5pm | £22.50 members, £25 non-members

Reconnect with nature and unwind from the stresses of everyday life at our 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. Swedish teacher and workshop leader Helena Skoog will show you how to use all your senses to connect with your surroundings, drawing on the power of nature to relieve tension, relax and nourish your sense of wellbeing.

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.

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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 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 100,000 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.