Enjoy November at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst
Release date: 29 October 2024
- Now open, Expressions in Blue: Monumental Porcelain by Felicity Aylieff
- Rare and Extinct in the Temperate House showcases Kew’s precious plants
- Final dates for Halloween at Kew, pre-booking essential
- Room on the Broom must end 3 November
- Tickets selling fast for Christmas at Kew, opening 13 November
- Glow Wild at Wakehurst opens for its eleventh year, celebrating the enchanting world of trees
- Spectacular autumn colour across Kew Gardens and Wakehurst
Kew Gardens
Expressions in Blue: Monumental Porcelain by Felicity Aylieff | until 23 March | Entry included in admission
Acclaimed ceramic artist Felicity Aylieff brings a major solo exhibition of monumental ceramics to Kew’s Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art this autumn. Aylieff is renowned for her longstanding collaborations with porcelain production workshops and artisan craftspeople in Jingdezhen, China – known as the Porcelain Capital of the world. This exhibition will encompass a selection of new works, including incredible 5-metre-tall vases, as well as a selection of colourful Fencai enamelled vessels, hand painted with designs inspired by the botanical illustrations from the Shirley Sherwood Collection.
Rare and Extinct | Temperate House | Entry included in admission
This autumn, step inside the Temperate House for a new exhibition exploring Kew’s unique collection of rare and threatened plants. Not usually on display to the public, these plants represent some of Kew’s most valuable species, showcased in a Room of Rarity and a Room of Extinction. The exhibition will shine a light on the efforts of Kew’s expert horticulturists to conserve the world’s most precious species and halt biodiversity loss.
Halloween at Kew | ends 3 November | Timed entry, pre-booking essential
New for 2024, this Halloween light trail will see Kew Gardens transformed into a spooktacular setting full of tricks and treats. Stumble across a Possessed Pumpkin Farm, wander through an illuminated Spiders Web, survive a sensational storm and discover a neon Carnivorous Tree feeding on unsuspecting skeletons. Witches, scarecrows, vampires and monsters will lurk in the shadows, and you may even stumble upon a headless horseman along the way.
Room on the Broom | ends 3 November | Entry included in admission
This half term, dive into the magical world of Room on the Broom at Kew Gardens. Immerse yourself in Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved tale as you follow the kind witch on her enchanting journey across our stunning autumn landscape. Explore the winding paths of Kew as you spot familiar characters from the story. Each step of the way, engage with playful installations and enjoy family-friendly activities that bring the magic of the book to life.
Horticultural Highlights- Autumn
Horticultural highlights during October at Kew Gardens include the spectacular signs of early autumn unfolding across Kew’s arboretum, which can be enjoyed from a unique perspective with a seasonal stroll along the Treetop Walkway.
Kew Publishing Book of the Month | Kew Gardens Puzzlebook
Put your nature knowledge to the test and learn more about the botanical world with this unique puzzle book from Kew Gardens! Packed with fun facts and a fascinating range of puzzles, this is a delightful entertainment for all the family. You'll learn to identify the difference between a primrose and a poinsettia, a robin's call from a redwing's - and much more!
Christmas at Kew 2024 | starts 13 November | pre-booking essential
.jpg.webp?itok=lCgGFIYt "Christmas at Kew light trail © Ollie Dixon")
From Wednesday 13 November, Christmas at Kew, a much-loved highlight of London’s festive calendar, returns. 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, seasonal sounds and 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. Pre-booking essential.
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 basket making workshop | 14 November | 10.30am – 4.30pm
Join us for a frame basket making workshop, led by Amanda Rayner of Wyldwood Willow. Amanda, an expert in willow weaving, will teach you how to create your own unique and functional frame basket using natural willow materials. By the end of the session, you'll have your own handmade basket, perfect for foraging, gardening, or as a decorative piece.
Botanical pen and ink: Intermediate | 18 – 20 November | 10.30am – 4pm
Led by botanical artist Lucy T Smith, this three-day course will allow participants to draw a complex subject in pencil before rendering it in pen and ink. The course will also include a tour of Kew’s Herbarium, and a look selected works from the Library, Art and Archives Collection.
Festive vintage paper collage workshop | 27 November | 1.30pm – 4pm
Immerse yourself in a world of vintage paper materials, from aged books to nostalgic magazines, as you craft your own masterpiece of vintage-inspired collage art. Let your imagination roam freely as you select images that capture the essence of the season and learn intricate collage techniques.
Christmas willow weaving | 28 November | 10.30am – 1.30pm and 2.30pm – 5.30pm
Join us at Kew Gardens to make your own woven willow creations for Christmas. Artisan willow weaver Amanda Ryner from Wyldwood Willow will lead this fun session, offering her expertise and top tips. Learn how to create a string or garland of woven Christmas decorations to hang over the fireplace this year.
Kew Publishing Book of the Month | Kew Gardens Puzzlebook
Put your nature knowledge to the test and learn more about the botanical world with this unique puzzle book from Kew Gardens! Packed with fun facts and a fascinating range of puzzles, this is a delightful entertainment for all the family. You'll learn to identify the difference between a primrose and a poinsettia, a robin's call from a redwing's - and much more!
Wakehurst
Horticultural Highlights
At Wakehurst, autumn colour is bursting throughout the landscape, with hotspots such as Bethlehem Wood, Westwood Lake and the Water Gardens providing perfect photo opportunities. Nestled within Westwood Valley, the Lake offers sweeping vistas as vibrant autumn colour reflects off tranquil waters. Visitors exploring the landscape should also keep an eye out for fantastic fungi popping up throughout the gardens.
Events
Nature Heroes: Seed Seeker | ends 3 Nov | All day | £3 per child
Launching an exciting collaboration with National Geographic Kids magazine, the next Nature Heroes mission invites families to become seed scientists as they learn how to bank a mystery seed! Children will learn more about the fascinating Millennium Seed Bank, as they follow the trail through autumnal woodlands and earn a Seed Seeker badge.
Glow Wild | Selected evenings: 28 November to 1 January | 4.15pm to 10pm | Various flexible ticket options available
Book now for Sussex’s award-winning lantern trail, with a new route, exclusive installations, and a magical Christmas Eve date! Discover an immersive, interactive trail of hand-crafted lantern displays and bespoke light installations by leading artists, inspired by the hidden world of trees. Don’t miss the iconic Christmas tree, mesmerising giant flying owl, and giant wood dragon, drenched in flickering fire.
Parkrun at Wakehurst | Every Saturday from 9am | Free
Pace yourself through our scenic landscape as Parkrun is now at Wakehurst. Every Saturday morning, embark on a fun, free and friendly 5k. Participants must register with Parkrun before their first event.
Wakehurst Workshops
Forest Bathing | 2 November | 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm
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.
Christmas Wreath Making Workshop | 28 and 30 November | 10am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm tp 4pm
Get into the festive spirit and learn a new skill by creating a traditional Christmas wreath, decorated with seasonal accessories, to make sure your door is the best dressed in town. Lindfield based florist Gemma from The Chestnut Flower Company will host this relaxed and fun workshop, where you will be shown step-by-step how to make your own unique wreath. Take inspiration from the wild wintery landscapes of Wakehurst using foliage hand-picked from the gardens.
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.