Kew

Queen of the night, Darwin's comet, lady's slipper, little dragon, black chimaera - the otherworldly names of orchid species are as beautiful as these sought-after flowers themselves. From flamboyant and colourful to strange and understated, and from alpine meadows to cloud forests, the orchid's variety and range is unparallelled - and has made it an object of obsession to plant collectors for centuries. With over 250 stunning botanical illustrations and fascinating documents from the archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, The Orchid explores 40 different varieties of this evocative and elusive flower.

Stretching across two-thirds of the Gardens, the arboretum at Kew surrounds the glasshouses in a leafy enclave to walk, wander and discover nature''s beauty. The 12,000 trees rooted in the arboretum represent more than 2,000 species, including rare and ancient varieties. This great collection contains trees as old as the Gardens themselves, many that cannot be found anywhere else in Britain.But who looks after these vast landscapes?Introducing the Tree Gang - Kew''s team of eight who work tirelessly throughout the year to maintain this rare collection.In this new book from Kew, you''ll discover the fascinating work of the Tree Gang: the team of eight that care for the trees at Kew. Going behind the scenes, you''ll learn more about life at Kew from the people who tend and care for the Gardens - from the daily tree assessments to the intermittent tree felling. As the climate becomes more variable, the gang''s work is ever more crucial as they brace for the storms ahead.AMONG THE GIANTS weaves together heartwarming stories alongside the fascinating life of trees. This book will inspire you to learn from the experts, and grow an appreciation for the trees around you.

The ancient Aztecs, the cannabis-smoking farmers of Neolithic China and the Woodstock hippies. Psychoactive plants have been used by different cultures for thousands of years for everything from shamanic rituals to staying awake.From the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Sandra Lawrence, Psychedelics is a fascinating exploration of the mind-altering plants that for centuries have helped shape the way we see the world. Packed with expert text and stunning botanical illustrations from the Kew archive, this book delves into the folklore, cultural relevance and botanical background of remarkable plants that have long been leveraged to hallucinogenic effect.A gorgeous gifty package, this book is both a beautifully illustrated botanical history and quirky cultural reference for plant lovers everywhere.

Meet the animals and insects that make trees their homes, from koalas in Australia to goldfinches in the hedgerows of the UK. This immersive sticker activity book is in partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – with 100 plastic-free stickers!Have you ever climbed a tree and imagined what it would be like to nest like a bird amongst the branches? Or laid in the grass and peered into the tiny world of insects? This sticker activity book teaches children all about the amazing wildlife that lives and shelters in trees, with fun, on and off-page activities and 100 plastic-free stickers to keep small hands busy.Inspired by the Kew Gardens treehouse for children, design your own treehouse, build a bug hotel and fill sticker scenes with bugs, animals, nests and more!With fun illustrations of cute animals, alongside digestible facts and pages to decorate with plastic-free stickers, this book is the perfect gift for curious young readers who love nature, the outdoors and finding out about animals and their tree homes.