The Temperate House at The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew was re-opened by Sir David Attenborough on 3rd May. LUC provided extensive landscape design and ecology services for the restoration.

The official opening was celebrated on Thursday with speeches from Sir David Attenborough, Kew’s Chairman, Marcus Agius, Kew’s Director, Richard Deverell and a performance from the Temperate House Community Choir.

The grade I listed building, designed by Decimus Burton and built in 1859-1863, is the world’s largest Victorian greenhouse. It had been closed to the public for five years while Kew’s biggest ever restoration took place, costing £41 million. LUC has been involved since the onset of the project in 2012, helping to securing a Heritage Lottery Fund grant and planning consent. We were then responsible for the landscape restoration of the scheme that included upgrading the path network and improving accessibility into the building.

LUC’s ecology team provided ecological support throughout the project – carrying out ecological surveys and assessments to support the planning and HLF applications, and subsequently helping project delivery.  This included obtaining bat and badger mitigation licences and delivering mitigation works whilst minimising programme implications.

We are delighted to have played our part in this fascinating and ambitious project, helping to restore this iconic London landmark and secure it and its valuable plant collection for years to come.