Kew Gardens has launched a new virtual hub for horticulture lovers
With spring fully underway, this would normally be the perfect time to visit london’s spectacular Kew Gardens, the world’s largest and most diverse botanical collection. But while the gardens themselves may remain closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, a new online initiative has launched, much to the delight of green-fingered fans, featuring a behind-the-scenes series and regular updates on the progress of kew’s many trees, plants and flowers.
Though Kew Gardens is currently shut in line with government guidance, some members of staff are still working on site and have been tasked with posting regular updates to the Royal Botanic Gardens’ social media channels, including beautiful images of their cherry blossom trees in full bloom, views from inside their greenhouses and snapshots from the treetops.
Alongside this you’ll find newly released video footage from inside many of their most iconic sites, including a peek at their Palm House, a tropical paradise in the heart of London, and a tour of their Winter Garden, which is currently full of dazzling blooms in a vibrant array of colours.
The team will also be sharing new articles every week, exploring the worlds of plants and fungi and teaching you how to connect better with nature, as well as educational materials aligned with the curriculum to support home schooling and fun activities for families to do together.
“In these unprecedented and uncertain times, we want to continue to share the beauty of the plants and landscapes at this time of year with as many people as possible,” said Richard Deverell, Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
“We encourage anyone who might have visited this springtime, or perhaps have never visited, to explore both our sites virtually. We’ll have daily updates on our digital channels from the brilliant team of key workers who continue to look after our collections, so they are in good shape when we are able to open our doors once again. In the meantime, may I thank everyone for their good wishes and continuing support.”
kew.org