Thailand’s vibrant colours, culture, and magnificent plant life will be the centrepiece of Kew Gardens’ 2018 Orchids Festival in February

Inside the tropical paradise of the Princess of Wales Conservatory, visitors to Kew’s 23rd annual Orchids Festival will get a chance to shake off the winter blues and get creative through a host of exciting new events and activities designed to appeal to all ages.

Colourful floral displays will welcome visitors as they enter the tropical glasshouse and wander through a magnificently colourful Vanda tunnel, with three arches delicately covered with hanging orchids.

Beautifully handcrafted floating Thai umbrellas will lead to an exquisite Bang Pa-In-inspired orchid palace. A traditional Thai market boat and rice paddy form an exquisite water display, representing a typical bucolic scene, complete with a special Thai cart on loan from the Royal Thai Embassy in London.

As well as the stunning visual displays, visitors will be immersed in the sounds Thailand via four different specially-commissioned soundscapes playing inside the glasshouse.

From the grinding of ingredients and the sizzling of spices in a pan, to the tranquil sounds of an exotic spa and the regal stirrings of a palace, all aspects of Thailand’s culture are captured throughout the diverse soundtracks.

Nick Johnson, Public Glasshouse Manager, RBG Kew, said: “I’m so excited to be creating this year’s Thai-inspired festival which I think is going to be rare and beautiful. It will immerse visitors in the sights, senses and sounds of Thailand’s tranquil and unique culture, creating an explosion of colourful beauty that celebrates the wonder of orchids.

We hope this journey will highlight the significance of plants for all walks of life, from the traditional and spiritual to the cultural and religious, all the while showing the importance of plant diversity and Kew’s work to protect, conserve and study plants.”