3 May - 26 October 2008
British Museum Forecourt
Admission free
In a unique partnership, the British Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew will conjure up a stunning China landscape in the forecourt of the British Museum this summer. The landscape will celebrate the two institutions shared vision to strengthen cultural understanding and support biodiversity conservation across the world. The experts at Kew will select and provide the plants and design, the British Museum will provide curatorial expertise and the location. The landscape follows on from the successful Africa Garden created in 2005, and future collaborative projects are planned.
Inspired by the collections of both Kew and the British Museum, the landscape will reveal some of the connections between China's natural habitat and its culture. Trees, shrubs and flowers are both cultural symbols and resources, used for building materials, food, drink, clothing and medicine. The landscape will be a celebration of natural beauty and the bounty it provides. Visitors will be able to wander around the fragrant trails of wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), admire the beautiful White Mulberry (Morus alba) and historic handkerchief tree (Davidia involucrata), whilst also absorbing a strong conservation and sustainability message.
