Kew Gardens Orchids Festival (February 14th)

Celebrate the richness of Costa Rica with Kew Gardens' annual orchid festival. The stunning horticultural displays bring to life the incredible biodiversity of Central America through the culture and colours of a country home to 6% of the world's flora and fauna species.

Transport yourself to the tropics in our route weaving through the Princess of Wales Conservatory, and don't miss our vibrant installations of monkeys, sea turtles and the native quetzal bird — a symbol of Costa Rican forest protection. Along the way, discover Ethereal Nature, a series of installations by Costa Rican artist Dino Urpí which explore the balance, beauty and harmony of the natural world and 'bountifulness of our planet'.

The glasshouse pond will be filled with brilliant oranges and yellows to imitate a rising sun, and the national flower Guarianthe skinneri will be on show in its vibrant pink glory. Costa Rica is a role model for biodiversity conservation — it was recently awarded the inaugural Protect and Restore Nature Earthshot Prize — and a major orchid habitat.

Orchids 2022 showcases the collaboration between local experts and Kew scientists in their mission to understand Costa Rica's wonderful plant life. If you are interested then tickets cost £20 per person and are available to book via The Lexo Club Concierge...