New Carbon Garden opens at Kew
The newly unveiled Carbon Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), Kew has officially opened to the public today in London.
Now a permanent feature at Kew, the garden aims to raise awareness of the role carbon plays in sustaining life on Earth, as well as bringing to attention the scale of the climate crisis.
Telling a story of the role nature-based solutions play in tackling climate change, the garden boasts over 6.5k plants and 35 trees.
At its centre, inspired by fungi, resides a bespoke pavilion made of natural fibres, a further reminder to role of plants and fungi in supporting ecosystems.
The garden also features interactive binoculars that teach the process of photosynthesis, and a soil wall explaining how carbon reaches underground.
Richard Wildford, head of garden design at RBG Kew, comments:
“By 2050 London is expected to have the same climate as Barcelona. The plants in this garden are expected to live over 100 years, absorbing lots of carbon over that time. This can slow down the rate of climate change through carbon capture.”
He hopes that the garden will encourage visitors to become advocates for nature, supporting plant health and the planet in their everyday lives.