Who knew one of the most biodiverse places on Earth can be reached via the District Tube Line from London? Kew Gardens, located in the eponymous suburban district of London southwest of the center city, is home to a botanic garden with UNESCO Cultural World Heritage designation. The gardens first opened in 1759 and Kew was officially founded in 1840, overseen by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

We wandered around in the arboretum and ascended the Treetop Walkway, a platform 18 meters off the ground permitting an eye-level view of the canopy. We also visited the humid Palm House, home to an indoor rain forest. This is an important group of plants to study as rain forest plants cover 2% of the world’s surface but make up 50% of its species. I particularly delighted in exploring the Temperate House, a Victorian greenhouse that had recently reopened after renovations. The Temperature House is home to a wide variety of rare and threatened plans from temperate zones around the world.

KEW GARDENS

Kew Gardens Website: https://www.kew.org/