Lichens—symbiotic partnerships between fungi and photosynthetic organisms—ar among the Earth’s most resilient and intriguing life forms. Their capacity to colonise trees, rocks, soil, and even glass or metal makes them exceptional models for studying adaptation, environmental interaction, and long-term ecological change. At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, these qualities converge within the vision of a Lichen Garden, a calm and contemplative landscape that highlights lichens as indicators of environmental health and sources of quiet natural beauty. Complementing this space, the Lichen School provides a dedicated centre for learning and public engagement, transforming Kew’s more than 180 recorded lichen species into a living, accessible curriculum within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Lichen Garden and Lichen School together illuminate the remarkable biodiversity and taxonomic richness of lichens at Kew. Visitors and students can explore a wide range of lichen growth forms—crustose, foliose, fruticose, squamulose, and leprose—and discover how these morphologies reflect evolutionary adaptation to light, moisture, and substrate. At the Lichen School, workshops introduce classical and molecular identification techniques, linking observable traits with DNA-based taxonomy and reinforcing Kew’s role in advancing public understanding of fungi and cryptogamic diversity.

Ecologically, the Lichen Garden demonstrates the importance of lichens as pioneer organisms and ecosystem engineers. Their ability to initiate colonisation on bare surfaces, contribute to soil formation, and support microhabitats for invertebrates and microorganisms makes them ideal subjects for teaching ecological succession, nutrient cycling, and symbiosis. Field modules in the Lichen School expand on these lessons by examining how lichen distribution responds to microclimatic gradients, canopy structure, and pollution exposure across the Gardens.

Because lichens absorb water and nutrients directly from the atmosphere, they serve as sensitive indicators of air quality and environmental change. The Lichen Garden, therefore, functions as a living, evolving exhibition of London’s atmospheric history. Programmes within the Lichen School introduce visitors to bioindicator science, enabling them to compare species richness across Kew, interpret nitrogen pollution patterns, and use digital lichen maps linked to real-time air-quality data. This strengthens climate literacy by connecting visible biodiversity with invisible environmental processes.

Lichens at Kew also embody a compelling narrative of ecological recovery. As air quality in London improved in the decades following the Clean Air Acts, sensitive species gradually returned to the city—a story that can be shared through interpretation in the Lichen Garden. At the Lichen School, conservation modules explore how lichens interact with heritage materials such as stone, wood, and glass, demonstrating both biodeterioration and bioprotection. These topics support training for conservation students, heritage practitioners, and researchers interested in urban biodiversity.

Beyond their ecological importance, lichens offer significant biotechnological potential. Their secondary metabolites possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, and UV-protective properties, which can be explored through demonstrations in Kew’s laboratories and Lichen School workshops. Introducing visitors to lichen chemistry, metabolomics, and bio-inspired materials highlights the role of lichens in sustainable innovation and aligns with Kew’s forward-looking science strategy.

The Lichen Garden reveals the hidden beauty of lichens through intricate textures, pigments, and microstructures displayed via digital media, macro-photography, and interpretive panels. This visual richness fosters curiosity, mindfulness, and slow observation—qualities that contribute to visitor wellbeing. The interdisciplinary nature of lichens allows the Lichen School to integrate science with art, design, and storytelling, supporting STEAM learning and creative exhibitions. Citizen science programmes, such as lichen surveys and air-quality mapping, extend the reach of lichen education beyond the Garden and encourage public participation in biodiversity monitoring.

Strategically, the Lichen School enriches Kew’s educational, horticultural, and scientific training by incorporating lichen modules into formal programmes and facilitating collaborations with the British Lichen Society and universities. Public interpretation within the Lichen Garden includes seasonal displays, QR-linked species pages, and engaging narratives that connect visitors to environmental science. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kew provides a globally significant platform for linking lichen diversity with cultural heritage, sustainability goals, and international biodiversity frameworks such as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.