IN PHOTOS: 25th annual Orchid Festival held at Kew Gardens
By Heather Nicholls
4th Feb 2024 | Local News
Kew Gardens' 25th annual Orchid Festival is taking over the Princess of Wales Conservatory this February.
The festival is inspired by the beauty and biodiversity of Madagascar which is one of the most biologically valuable countries in the world.
Madagascar is home to over 1000 species of orchid and is a land of striking contrast, from spiny forests to succulent woodlands.
It is also home to some of the most unique wildlife on earth.
The display took three weeks to create in-situ, each assembled by hand by a team of almost 100 volunteers and a dozen horticultural staff.
As well as an amazing variation of orchids, the display also includes a beautiful array of sculptural animals that are inspired by Madagascar's wildlife.
A number of Madagascan orchids are on display including, Angraecum sesquipedale, otherwise known as Darwin's orchid.
This species, and moth which pollinated the orchid, helped Darwin to theorise co-evolution, which visitors are able to learn more about.
The festival is open from Saturday 3 Febraury to Sunday 3 March 2024.
Entry to the festival is included in tickets to Kew Gardens.
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