Kew Gardens’ Carbon Garden: A Living Exhibition Tackling the Climate Crisis

A Groundbreaking Climate Crisis Exhibition Blooms in London

In a bold move blending botany with urgent environmental messaging, Kew Gardens has launched the world’s first Carbon Garden, a permanent, science-driven exhibition designed to highlight carbon’s role in both sustaining life and fuelling the climate crisis.

The garden, opened in July 2025, features 6,500 climate-resilient plants, 35 specially selected trees, and a central pavilion inspired by fungi. Located within the UNESCO World Heritage site in southwest London, this immersive experience offers visitors a vivid, living demonstration of how nature both influences and responds to climate change.

A Garden That Teaches and Inspires

Walking through the Carbon Garden, visitors encounter a landscape rich in symbolism and scientific storytelling:

• Photosynthesis in action: Educational signage explains how plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) and convert it into organic matter, demonstrating nature’s central role in carbon cycling.
• Drought-resilient planting: A Dry Garden showcases hardy species like lavender, rosemary, prairie grassesand Parry’s agave, thriving in arid soils that mirror future conditions predicted for southern England.
• Carbon-absorbing trees: The 35 trees, chosen for their adaptability to hotter climates and their carbon sequestration capabilities, reflect a future London climate akin to modern-day Barcelona.
• Rain Garden and soil layers: Designed to capture and filter water, these areas feature visible soil profiles, fossilised plants and even a coal seam, drawing attention to the ancient carbon beneath our feet and its role in today’s crisis.
• Fungi-inspired pavilion: At the heart of the exhibit stands a low-carbon structure made from flax composite, granite and timber. Designed by Mizzi Studio, it mimics fungal networks and illustrates the symbiotic relationships that sustain plant life while collecting rainwater for reuse.

Kew’s Manager of Garden Design, Richard Wilford, summarised the intent behind the exhibit: “The garden shows how crucial carbon is to life, while warning of the damage caused by increasing carbon dioxide emissions.”

Why the Carbon Garden Matters

As 2024 became the hottest year on record and global CO₂ emissions from the energy sector reached an all-time high, the launch of the Carbon Garden could not be more timely.

This is more than just an attractive display. It is a catalyst for awareness and action:

• Scientific storytelling: The garden translates abstract climate data into engaging, sensory experiences, encouraging visitors to make informed decisions about sustainability.
• Boosting eco-tourism: Kew’s commitment to biodiversity and climate education positions it as a leading destination for environmental education in London, and a model for botanical institutions globally.
• Encouraging rewilding and urban planting: As noted by climate researcher Amanda Cooper, initiatives like tree planting and woodland restoration are vital. The garden echoes themes of rewilding seen in urban forestry projects across the UK.
• Promoting biodiversity: Beyond large trees, the garden supports hedgerows, meadows and soil health, areas that store more carbon than monocultures and create habitats for pollinators and wildlife.

Plan Your Visit and Be Part of the Change

The Carbon Garden is open daily during Kew Gardens’ standard hours (10 am to 7 pm), with entry included in general admission.

📍 Location: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AE
🚇 Transport: Nearest Tube stations are Kew Gardens (District Line) and Richmond (Overground/National Rail)
🗺️ Directions: Enter via Elizabeth Gate off Kew Green for direct access to the new exhibit.

🌱 Support, Share and Act

• Explore the garden to learn how plants combat climate change and how carbon flows through ecosystems.
• Share your experience on social media using hashtags like #CarbonGarden and #ClimateAction.
• Support botanical institutions that champion sustainability, education and biodiversity.

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