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The Independent
20 hours ago
- The Independent
‘I'm an expert gardener – Kew is a world-class attraction, but here's what it needs to change'
Kew Gardens, near London 's Richmond Park, is iconic. And its most emblematic feature is the Palm House, which will be closing from 2027 for a five-year refurbishment – part of an ambitious bid by the Gardens to become climate positive by 2030. The Palm House is the world's largest surviving Victorian glasshouse and a symbol of the gardens' innovative history. But the £50m project, that will include temporarily rehoming around 1,300 plants, is sorely needed. It's difficult to say which is more impressive: the grandiose glasshouse, with its whimsical spiral staircases, or the plants for which it was built. Encountering the glasshouse is rather like wandering through a rainforest and happening upon a crumbling historical monument, the white iron striking against lush greenery. However, while the plants have thrived in the balmy temperatures within, the Palm House has not. The rust and corrosion is a result of the same conditions that keep the plants so healthy, and it's hard to ignore. As part of the makeover, the Grade I-listed building will have each of its 16,000 panes of glass replaced, while the frame will repainted in the exact shade used when it first opened to the public in 1848. Perhaps this decay is symbolic of Kew's place in British culture: at once enrapturing and frustrating. In its current iteration, Kew is certainly impressive, and is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the capital. But in order to retain its title of a world-class attraction, Kew needs to continue to innovate. A mecca for botanists Happily, there is plenty for the budding gardener to enjoy at present. The Gardens remain a mecca for botanists, home to numerous plants that are now considered extinct in the wild and many more that are critically endangered. Alongside the Chelsea Flower Show, it remains one of the best places for a green-fingered day out – it is easily one of the best things to do with children during the summer holidays. And while London is full of exciting places to visit, Kew Gardens stands out as one of only four places in the city designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is a living monument to centuries of changing fashions and fancies, told through exquisite horticulture. As an ecologist, you only need to say the words 'rare plant' to me, and I'll be there. But if this sounds too academic, fear not. Kew has a lot more to offer than just its plant collections. Younger visitors have long delighted in splashing and climbing their way through the Children's Garden, while the wheelchair-accessible Treetop Walkway takes visitors high up into the canopy. Guests who are happier keeping their feet on the ground can find numerous walking trails throughout the site (plus picturesque picnic spots). With over 300 acres to explore, it's easy to forget you are still in London, just a stones' throw from the hustle and bustle of Kensington. It's equipped with numerous greenhouses, cafes, restaurants, a library and a gallery, meaning there is plenty to keep you occupied on a rainy day. Cacti and waterlilies One of my favourite things to do while exploring Kew is to visit the Princess of Wales Conservatory. Within, guests can wander through ten different climatic areas, from a wet tropical zone to an arid desert, complete with prickly cacti. The conservatory is also home to a fabulous species of giant waterlily, Victoria boliviana, whose huge pads float like boats on the pond. These are particularly special as the variety was discovered at Kew itself. Visitors used to be able to spot the glasshouse's very own pest control unit here, comprising a burly group of water dragons. These striking lizards were a delight to watch, lazing around or skittering between plants, taking their role of bug patrol very seriously. Sadly, the creatures are no longer resident in the spot – but wildlife, especially butterflies and bees, are in abundance. What Kew needs to do With the refurbishment, Kew is recommitting itself to preserving biodiversity and becoming more sustainable. Still, there's more the Gardens could be doing. I'd love to see more information around the gardens about Kew's global research projects – from seed banks in the Alps to plant conservation in Angola. The Eden Project, in Cornwall, is particularly good at signposting its work in this department, and Kew could learn something here. With approximately 2.45 million visitors a year, Kew's potential for educating the public is vast and I believe this could be better expressed. I'd love to see more interactive displays teaching visitors about environmental issues, or simply more information about how to make their own gardens a force for good in the world. Visiting Kew Gardens is a remarkable, transformative excursion: a chance to explore the world's landscapes for a fraction of the cost of a plane ticket. Once completed, the restoration of the Palm House will be a powerful symbol of a changing British institution. What began as a collection of flowers has now become a frontline in the battle against climate change. The changes to the glasshouse are a clear message that we can create a better environmental future, while continuing to preserve our heritage.


New York Times
7 days ago
- General
- New York Times
London's Kew Gardens Will Renovate Iconic Glasshouses
For generations, plant-lovers have come to the glass Palm House at Kew Gardens in London to climb a spiral staircase, stroll along a walkway and peer down on the green scalp of the jungle below. But in recent years, the structure has started to show its 177 years. Paint is blistering off the rusting iron, and heat from a gas boiler escapes from around its 16,000 panes of glass. 'It's starting to degrade,' said Reuben Briggs, who is in charge of capital projects for Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, as the gardens are formally known. He noted the tropical climate that the greenhouse simulates places strain on the building. 'It's dripping with condensation, and that cast and wrought iron is starting to corrode,' he said. So in 2027, Kew announced on Wednesday, the Palm House will close for four years for a major renovation, along with the Waterlily House, its 19th-century neighbor. The goal of the construction project is to address 'serious signs of deterioration,' the announcement said, and also to help Kew Gardens meet its climate goals. 'The key thing for us is to conserve the building, but also improve it for the future,' Mr. Briggs said. 'So improve it for the plants, improve it for the visitors, but also make sure that it's able to cope with the changing climate as well.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.


The Independent
7 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Kew's iconic Palm House to temporarily close in £60m renovation project
Kew Gardens ' iconic Palm House is set to close for up to five years as part of a £60 million net-zero initiative, the Royal Botanic Gardens has announced. The extensive renovations, encompassing the adjacent Waterlily House, aim to create the "first heritage net-zero glasshouses of their kind". The Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) cited significant deterioration in both structures, last refurbished in the 1980s, necessitating the restoration. The comprehensive overhaul will involve replacing 16,500 glass panes with high-performance sealed glazing, incorporating bespoke silicone gaskets to minimise heat loss, and installing a fully electrified air and water source heat pump system. The project is not expected to commence until 2027, with the glasshouses closing for up to five years once work begins. The Palm House, completed in 1848, houses tropical and sub-tropical plants; the Waterlily House, opened in 1852, showcases giant Amazon waterlilies. There will also be upgrades to the rainwater storage and irrigation system and the restoration of original ornamental garden layouts and finishes. Richard Deverell, director of RBG Kew, said: 'This is a pivotal moment in the history of Kew. 'With sustainability at the core of our mission, this project exemplifies our commitment to safeguarding both the environment and cultural heritage. 'The transformation of the Palm House and Waterlily House into net-zero icons will not only protect irreplaceable plants but serve as a beacon of what sustainable heritage can achieve.' The project is expected to cost £60 million and the relocation and propagation of plant specimens by Kew's horticulturists has already begun. Two glasshouses, one permanent and one temporary, have been built for the cultivation of the tropical plants as the work commences. There are around 1,300 plants within the Palm House alone. Tom Pickering, head of glasshouse collections at RBG Kew, added: 'At the heart of this project is the need to protect the extraordinary plant collections housed in the Palm House and Waterlily House. 'Besides being beautiful, many have cultural, scientific and conservation value, and replacing these collections is unimaginable. 'Achieving net zero in these historic buildings is an unprecedented task, it's a complex challenge which must consider the interplay of horticulture, climatic control, engineering and architecture.'


The Independent
7 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Kew's Palm House to shut for renovations as part of push towards net zero
The famous Palm House at Kew is to shut for up to five years as part of a £60 million push towards net zero, the Royal Botanic Gardens has announced. Renovations to the listed building, alongside its companion the Waterlily House, are part of a conservation project to create the 'first heritage net-zero glasshouses of their kind'. The Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) said restoration work was needed on both buildings after they showed signs of serious deterioration, having last undergone renovations in the 1980s. The project is not expected to start until 2027 and the greenhouses will close for up to five years once the changes begin to take place. Home to tropical and sub-tropical plants, the Palm House was originally completed in 1848, while the Waterlily House opened in 1852 to showcase giant Amazon waterlilies. As part of the work, the buildings will see the replacement of 16,500 glass panes with high-performance sealed glazing, the use of bespoke silicone gaskets to reduce heat loss, and the installation of a fully electrified air and water source heat pump system. There will also be upgrades to the rainwater storage and irrigation system and the restoration of original ornamental garden layouts and finishes. Richard Deverell, director of RBG Kew, said: 'This is a pivotal moment in the history of Kew. 'With sustainability at the core of our mission, this project exemplifies our commitment to safeguarding both the environment and cultural heritage. 'The transformation of the Palm House and Waterlily House into net-zero icons will not only protect irreplaceable plants but serve as a beacon of what sustainable heritage can achieve.' The project is expected to cost £60 million and the relocation and propagation of plant specimens by Kew's horticulturists has already begun. Two glasshouses, one permanent and one temporary, have been built for the cultivation of the tropical plants as the work commences. There are around 1,300 plants within the Palm House alone. Tom Pickering, head of glasshouse collections at RBG Kew, added: 'At the heart of this project is the need to protect the extraordinary plant collections housed in the Palm House and Waterlily House. 'Besides being beautiful, many have cultural, scientific and conservation value, and replacing these collections is unimaginable. 'Achieving net zero in these historic buildings is an unprecedented task, it's a complex challenge which must consider the interplay of horticulture, climatic control, engineering and architecture.'


The Guardian
16-07-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Kew Gardens' tropical Palm House to shut for five years for net zero makeover
It has been the tropical jewel in one of the UK's most famous gardens for more than 175 years, and now the Palm House in the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew is to get a green makeover. The attraction, which houses Kew's tropical rainforest, will close for five years to allow engineers and botanists to transform it into the first net zero glasshouse in the world. The £50m plan will result in 1,300 plants – including the world's oldest potted plant, a gigantic Encephalartos altensteinii that dates from 1775 – being removed from the iron and glass structure and rehoused in temporary greenhouses until their new digs are ready. The plants include 45 plant species on the verge of extinction, and while some can be dug up and placed in containers for relocation, others will be delicately propagated. The imposing Grade I-listed Victorian structure will have each of its 16,000 panes of glass replaced and recycled, while its soaring wrought-iron frame will be stripped, repaired and encased with a high-tech waterproof paint in the exact shade of white used when the Palm House was first opened to the public in 1848. But perhaps the biggest change will be the replacing of the Palm House's ancient gas-fired boiler system and leaky pipework with state-of-the-art air source and water source heat pumps. According to the gardens' accounts and annual report, Kew generated £369m for the UK economy in 2023. The renovation of the Palm House and its little sister, the Waterlily House, which account for more than a fifth of Kew Gardens' carbon emissions, is part of its plan to become climate positive by 2030. Other carbon reduction changes will reduce energy use by 49% across the 200-hectare (500-acre) site. Tom Pickering, the head of glasshouse collections at Kew, said: 'At the heart of this project is the need to protect the extraordinary plant collections housed in the Palm House and Waterlily House. Besides being beautiful, many have cultural, scientific and conservation value, and replacing these collections is unimaginable. Achieving net zero in these historic buildings is an unprecedented task, it's a complex challenge which must consider the interplay of horticulture, climatic control, engineering, and architecture.' The redesigned interior of the Palm House will be more accessible and have more places for visitors to sit and wonder at the tropical rainforest collections. Planning permission for the project has been submitted, with funding coming from central government, the Julia Rausing Trust, the World Monuments Fund and other donors. The renovation is likely to start in 2027, with the exact date dependent on planning permission and funding.