Kew Gardens Facts & Worksheets

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The “biggest and most varied botanical and mycological collection in the world” can be found in Kew Gardens, a botanic garden in southwest London. Established in 1840, the Kew Park exotic garden inspired the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, home to some of the world’s largest herbariums with over 8.5 million maintained plant and fungal specimens. It is a World Heritage Site and one of the main tourist attractions in London.

See the fact file below for more information about the Kew Gardens, or you can download our 28-page Kew Gardens worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY

• Kew Gardens originated from royal residences in the 13th century and early 16th century at Richmond and Kew.
• Notable structures, such as Sheen Palace and Richmond Palace, influenced the garden’s layout.
• By the 18th century, Kew Park saw development under the influence of Henry Capell and Augusta, Princess of Wales.
• Kew Gardens officially began in 1772 when the royal estates of Richmond and Kew merged.
• William Chambers constructed fundamental garden structures, including the Great Pagoda, in 1761.
• George III, supported by William Aiton and Joseph Banks, enhanced the gardens, demolishing old Kew Park in 1802.
• The “Dutch House,” acquired in 1781, became Kew Palace.
• The Epicure’s Almanack in 1815 mentioned the garden wall adorned with drawings by a seaman.
• The early plant collections were relatively chaotic until the first collector, Francis Masson, was appointed in 1771.
• Capability Brown applied for a gardening role but was rejected.
• In 1840, Kew Gardens became a national botanical garden, expanding under director William Hooker.
• The Palm House, built in 1844-1848, is a significant Victorian glass and iron structure. The Temperate House, the largest Victorian glasshouse, followed in the 19th century.
• Kew played a role in the 19th-century successful propagation of rubber trees outside South America.
• Suffragettes burned down the Tea House in 1913 during a series of arson attacks.
• The Great Storm of 1987 caused substantial tree loss at Kew Gardens.
• From 1959 to 2007, Kew had Britain’s tallest flagpole, which was later removed due to damage.
• UNESCO designated Kew Gardens as a World Heritage Site in July 2003.
• A £41 million revamp of the Temperate House was completed in May 2018.
• Five surviving trees, known as the ‘Five Lions,’ date back to the establishment of the botanical gardens in 1762.

KEW GARDEN FEATURES

• The Treetop Walkway, inaugurated in 2008, offers a 200-meter elevated stroll through a woodland glade, 18 meters above the ground. 
• This canopy walk, designed by David Marks, allows visitors to ascend and descend using stairs or a lift. 
• The floor is made of perforated metal, providing flexibility underfoot while the entire structure sways with the wind. Rusting steel supports blend visually with the surroundings, creating a tree-like appearance.
• The Lake Crossing, constructed with granite and bronze and opened in May 2006, is a minimalist-styled bridge designed by Buro Happold and John Pawson. 
• The sweeping double curve of black granite, along with bronze posts, gives the illusion of a solid wall from certain angles. 
• It encourages visitors to explore more of the gardens, connecting art galleries, the Temperate and Evolution Houses, the woodland clearing, Minka House, and the Bamboo Garden. 
• The bridge received a special award from the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2008.
• The Hive, designed by Wolfgang Buttress and unveiled in 2016, offers a multi-sensory experience highlighting the life of bees.
• Standing 17 meters tall in a wildflower meadow, The Hive consists of thousands of aluminum pieces shaped like a honeycomb. 
• Initially a temporary exhibition, its popularity led to its permanent installation at Kew Gardens.
• Kew Explorer, a circular tour service around the gardens, employs two 72-seater road trains fueled by Calor Gas to minimize pollution. 
• A driver provides commentary at several stops, facilitating exploration. The gardens offer a map on their website for visitors’ convenience.
• Kew boasts one of Europe’s most extensive compost heaps, created from green and woody waste from the gardens and manure from the Household Cavalry stables. 
• Although not accessible to the public, a viewing platform made from illegally traded wood seized by Customs officers allows visitors to observe the composting cycle.
• Daily guided walks, led by trained volunteers, provide visitors with informative tours of the gardens.

PLANT HOUSES

• Alpine House (Davies Alpine House):
  • Opened in March 2006, the Davies Alpine House is the third version of the Alpine House since 1887.
  • It is 16 meters long, with an apex roof arch reaching 10 meters to facilitate natural airflow, which is crucial for plant ventilation.
  • Features automatically operated blinds to prevent overheating, an excellent air system, and specially designed low-iron glass for maximum light transmission.
  • Cooling air is not refrigerated but passes through pipes buried under the house to maintain a suitable temperature.
  • Houses over 7,000 alpine plants, with around 200 displayed at a time.
• Nash Conservatory:
  • Originally intended for Buckingham Palace, King William IV moved it to Kew in 1836.
  • Formerly known as Aroid House No. 1, it displayed Araceae species and is now utilized for exhibitions, weddings, private events, and photography competition exhibitions.
• Orangery:
  • Designed by Sir William Chambers and completed in 1761.
  • It measures 28 by 10 meters and was initially intended for growing citrus plants but repurposed multiple times.
  • Currently used as a restaurant.
• Palm House:
  • It was constructed between 1844 and 1848, collaborating with Decimus Burton and Richard Turner.
  • Features a wrought iron space frame supporting glass panes originally tinted green.
  • Houses a diverse collection of palm trees, with Queen’s Beasts statues in front.
  • Originally heated by coal-fired boilers, later electrified, and now piped with hot water.
• Princess of Wales Conservatory:
  • Diana, Princess of Wales, opened it in 1987 to replace 26 lesser structures.
  • Designed by Gordon Wilson, it houses computer-controlled micro-climatic zones with various plant collections.
  • Covers 4,499 square meters, with cooler zones on the periphery and tropical zones centrally to conserve heat.
  • Received the Europa Nostra award for conservation in 1989.
• Temperate House:
  • Reopened in May 2018 after restoration, the world’s largest surviving Victorian glass structure.
  • Commissioned in 1859, it was designed by Decimus Burton and Richard Turner, covering 4,880 square meters.
  • Accommodates Kew’s collection of hardy and temperate plants, which took 40 years to construct.
  • Features a viewing gallery for visitors to observe the collection.
• Waterlily House:
  • Built in 1852 to house Victoria amazonica, the largest water lily.
  • Contains a large pond with water lily varieties and economically important heat-loving plants.
  • Closes during winter due to high humidity.
  • Initially obtained heat from the nearby Palm House but later equipped with its own boiler.
• Evolution House:
  • Formerly known as the Australian House, a gift from the Australian Government, opened in 1952.
  • Renamed Evolution House in 1995, designed by S L Rothwell and constructed by the Crittall Manufacturing Company Ltd.
  • The Planning Act of 1990 listed the building due to its unique architectural or historic significance.
• Bonsai House:
  • Formerly known as Alpine House No. 24 before the construction of the Davies Alpine House.

PLANT COLLECTIONS

• Kew Gardens hosts a diverse array of living plant collections, encompassing the Alpine and Rock Garden, Arboretum, Arid, Aroid, Bonsai, Bromeliad, Carnivorous Plant, Aquatic, Cycad, Fern, Grass, Island Flora, Orchid, Mediterranean Garden, Palm, Temperate Herbaceous, Tropical Herbaceous, Tender Temperate, and Tropical Woody and Climbers Collections.
• The Aquatic Garden, marking its centenary in 2009, is situated near the Jodrell laboratory, providing optimal conditions for aquatic and marginal plants.
• Its corner ponds are home to a variety of plants, including Phragmites, bulrushes, reed mace, and smaller floating aquatic species, while the central pool is home to summer-flowering water lilies.
• The Bonsai Collection has a dedicated greenhouse near the Jodrell laboratory, housing an impressive assortment of bonsai trees.
• The Arid Collection, including Cactaceae and other succulent plants, is housed across the Tropical Nursery, Princess of Wales Conservatory, and Temperate House.
• The Carnivorous Plant collection finds its home in the Princess of Wales Conservatory.
• The Grass Garden, established in the early 1980s and revamped between 1994 and 1997, showcases over 580 ornamental and economic grasses species.
• The Orchid Collection occupies two climate zones within the Princess of Wales Conservatory, with a rotating display to maintain ongoing visual interest.
• The Rock Garden, initially built with limestone in 1882 and later reconstructed with Sussex sandstone, represents Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, North America, and South America, which are the six geographical regions.
• Currently, there are 2,480 different “accessions” growing in this garden.

HERBARIUM

• The Kew Herbarium, among the world’s largest, houses approximately 7 million specimens primarily utilized for taxonomic research. 
• This herbarium holds many types, particularly from tropical regions, and continually expands with 30,000 new specimens annually through global collaborations.
• It is essential for funding research on biodiversity, drawing in researchers from throughout the world, and advancing the study of botany. A substantial portion of the herbarium has been digitized, offering online accessibility to the public. The Index Herbariorum code K identifies the Kew Herbarium when citing specimens.

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES

• The Library, Art & Archives at Kew constitute one of the world’s most extensive botanical collections, containing over half a million items like books, botanical illustrations, photographs, letters, manuscripts, periodicals, and maps. 
• The Main Library, Rare Book Collections, Archives, Illustrations, and Economic Botany Library comprise the areas housed in the Herbarium building.
• An agreement signed in 1962 ensures that the collection’s focus does not duplicate that of the Natural History Museum in London, which concentrates on the flora of Europe and North America.

FORENSIC HORTICULTURE

• Kew’s involvement in forensic horticulture extends to providing guidance and advice to global police forces in cases where plant material can offer crucial clues or evidence. 
• Notably, Kew’s forensic science department identified a highly toxic African bean in the stomach contents of a headless corpse found in the River Thames, demonstrating the practical applications of botanical expertise in criminal investigations.

Kew Gardens Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Kew Gardens across 28 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Kew Gardens. Established in 1840, the Kew Park exotic garden inspired the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, home to some of the world’s largest herbariums with over 8.5 million maintained plant and fungal specimens. It is a World Heritage Site and one of the main tourist attractions in London.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Kew Gardens Facts
2. Historical Timeline
3. Plant Houses
4. Species
5. Infographics
6. Your Favorite Features
7. Virtual Tour
8. Aquatic Biomes
9. Herbarium
10. Kew Gardens Achievements
11. Raise the Banner
12. Terrarium 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kew Gardens?

Kew Gardens, also known as the Royal Botanic Gardens, is a botanical garden located in southwest London, England. It houses one of the largest and most diverse collections of plants in the world.

When was Kew Gardens established?

Kew Gardens was established in 1759, and it has since grown to become a world-renowned center for botanical research, conservation, and education.

What makes Kew Gardens unique?

Kew Gardens is renowned for its vast collection of plants, including rare and endangered species from around the globe. It also features iconic structures like the Palm House and the Temperate House, which showcase plants from different climates.

What is the significance of Kew Gardens?

Kew Gardens plays a crucial role in plant conservation and research, helping to protect endangered species and preserve biodiversity. It also serves as a popular tourist attraction and educational resource for visitors interested in botany and horticulture.

Are there any notable events or exhibits at Kew Gardens?

Kew Gardens hosts various events and exhibits throughout the year, including seasonal flower displays, art installations, and educational workshops. Additionally, it is home to the Kew Science Festival and the annual Orchid Festival, which celebrate the beauty and importance of plants.

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Link will appear as Kew Gardens Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 13, 2024