Right on Kew

2:41pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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Conservationists can update themselves on the sustainability of rainforests, scientists may explore fungal diversity, horticulturalists could examine rare and exotic species of plants but as Simon Totten found out, you can’t beat Kew Gardens for a fun family day out.

First and foremost Kew is a great place to escape to. When you walk through the gates at Kew it’s like entering a different world. You’ll feel immediately at ease with its shady palms and wide open green spaces, far removed from the bustle and pollution of the city.

It’s impossible to take in all of Kew’s 300 acres in one trip and fortunately it is divided into designated areas which makes it easier to plan what you want to see before you leave.

Getting around, heavily laden with family paraphernalia and accomodating small legs that easily get tired is made much easier if you buy a ticket on the Kew Explorer and if you’ve not been before the people mover enables visitors to get an overall view of the Gardens. Its current route, lasts approximately 35-40 minutes and incorporates eight stops close to buildings and areas of interest.

‘Explorer’ ticket holders are able to get on and off at any of the stops throughout the day. It costs £4 for an adult and £1 for children (under 17) which is worth it to avoid what could turn into a tiring day out.

First stop was the Rhizotron and Xstrata Treetop walkway which takes you under the ground and then 18 metres (59ft) up in the air. Its quite a climb and if you suffer from vertigo or are squeamish about heights, then you’re best to remain on terra firma.

The climb is well worth it. You sway slightly on the walkway as if standing on a branch high in the trees. Once you’re used to it, the experience is exciting. The views across the gardens and the London skyline beyond are breathtaking. Once you’ve returned to ground level it is a short and pleasant walk to one of the many cafes for a well earned breather and a cup of tea. The Creepers and Crawlies which is conveniently next to the cafe, is an interactive play and learning area which engages children from around 3-9 years in learning more about plants and their relationships with animals and people.

Children can pretend to be insects and climb inside a plant to learn about pollination or trap model flies with Venus fly traps or giggle nervously at the idea of being ‘eaten’ by a giant pitcher plant.

They can learn what it’s like for small mammals in woodland by crawling through a large-scale bramble thicket. Or see how bees make honey through a glass-walled apiary.

If its educational play you’re after, it doesn’t get much better than this. There is also the outdoor play space ‘Air Play’ which includes ‘The Lookout’ rest and observation area with information and snacks.

The website includes games and stories and more things to learn on www.kew.org/climbersandcreepers. For the adventurous there’s also a Badger Sett. You can walk through a giant forked oak branch entrance and experience what a badger’s home is really like. Food stores, sleeping chambers and nests are connected by a warren of tunnels. The Badger Sett is open daily, entry is free to garden visitors.

The tunnels are all at least a metre high, and one, 1.5 metres high, makes it suitable for wheelchairs. If you’ve got enough money it’s worth buying Kid’s Kew, the official guidebook for children visiting Kew Gardens, featuring places to visit and things to do at all times of the year.It has a map, 60 stickers, activities, and unusual information about flowers trees, plants and facts which will fire children’s curiosity, including an item on the Unlucky Tree which had a small plane crash into it in the early 1900’s and had been struck by lightning twice, and how Redwood trees can take hundreds of years to grow to a towering 115 metres. It’s safe to say it won’t be another 100 years before we visit again.