Plantasia at Kew Gardens, London
My birthday is almost exactly six months before/after Christmas, which spreads presents out rather nicely through the year. But as an added bonus this year, my main gift will see me through the whole 12 months.
I’ve been given membership to the lovely Kew Gardens, not far from where we live. And as children aged 16 and under go free, Minnie (and another family member) can come with me whenever we fancy going.
So with the sun (mostly) shining – in contrast to our last visit! – we headed over this weekend to check out Plantasia, this year’s summer festival.
It’s all about the life-enhancing power of plants, and they’ve cleverly dotted different elements all around the grounds.
As we were running a bit behind schedule, we didn’t have chance to see everything in one go so took a wander around the lake and past the Palm House (itself packed with medicinal plants used by different cultures around the world).
Here we found a flock of (carved) sheep, which Minnie insisted on trying one by one, climbing aboard each wooden back to find her favourite, monkey clutched tightly in her hand.
And a cart of healing heroes, from well-known medicinals like poppy and penicillin to wormwood.
You could choose which ‘healing hero’ got your vote by taking a piece of wool and tying it to the nearby vine tree. Or, if you’re a toddler, grabbing your favourite colour and draping it.
The validity of the entire experiment was nearly undermined as Minnie decided to snaffle an entire ball of wool and make off with it, before being distracted by the colourful tree.
And another one, wrapped in a blanket.
Then before we had chance to try the barefoot walk, find the 20m healing giant – a huge flowerbed made of more medicinal plants – or, sadly, wander to the gin and tonics garden for botanical drinks, we had to head home.
There’s plant family croquet and the Queen’s Garden, in the style of a 17th century medicinal garden to discover too.
Fortunately, I have just the ticket to come back.
For more tips on visiting Kew Gardens with kids, check out this post
Need to know
Tickets cost £15, with children under 17 entering free. All the Plantasia displays are included in the price, except for drinks in the gin and tonics garden which must be paid for in cash.
Open daily from 9.30am to 6.30pm until August 25, and to 6pm until October 25 (Plantasia finishes on September 7). The gin and tonics garden is open on weekends and August bank holiday only to 6pm, and the barefoot walk is open to 4.30pm only. There are also daily tours.
Check out all the latest Kew Garden exhibition details on the website
All images copyright MummyTravels
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