Imagine looking out and seeing thousands of shrubs, trees, grasses and flowers of various colors and shapes. Now imagine while you walk through this garden oasis, you are also learning about the role of carbon.
Such a place exists in London England’s Kew Gardens. The UNESCO World Heritage site launched their Carbon Garden this July. The purpose of this garden is to “celebrate[s] the carbon cycle and address[es] climate change by testing climate-resilient plants and water conservation methods.”
There are themed areas within the garden with information boards to explain what carbon is, its impact and what actions we can take in our own gardens to help reduce emissions. The goal is to spread awareness and inspire activity.
A mushroom pavilion is in the middle of the garden and it serves to highlight the important role of fungi in ecosystems.
As time passes, the plants in the garden will change to keep with the warming temperatures. But the focus will remain on including climate resilient species.