The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew has enticing plans for the summer. Visitors can go au naturel (from the ankles down) to wander the barefoot walking trail: balance on beams, hop across tree trunks, experience the moist, bouncy softness typical of rainforest floors and get muddy in the squelch zone.
For those who are more about tasting nature than touching it, the gin and tonics garden will be open, teaching tasters about the forgotten medicinal properties of cocktails (no, really). More sensory experiences will be available at the Palm House.
At Rainforest Remedies, visitors can learn how indigenous peoples from around the world have used nature for healing purposes over the years. Visitors can wander around a gigantic human-shaped horticultural display, The Healing Giant, which will showcase the effects of plants on the different parts of the body, or take part in Tai Chi sessions on Syon Vista. Kew's experts will be running weekly workshops on creating remedies, lotions and potions using the plants growing in your back garden.
There will be plenty of entertainment for little-ones, too. Look out for Mrs M and her cartload of curiosities and roaming performers, who will be telling stories, singing songs and instigating games of family croquet.
Most of the activities are included in the standard ticket price but check online for additional information and workshop prices.