London's New Evolution Garden Unfolds Earth's Botanical History for Free

A new forecourt garden has opened in front of London's Natural History Museum. Designed to trace plant evolution, it guides visitors through a journey from ancient ferns to modern flowering species. The space, free to the public, stands out as an outdoor project in a city known for its unpredictable winters.

The garden's creator, Oh Kyung-ah, is a landscape designer and CEO of OhGardens. Her work transforms a once-empty urban area into a living exhibit of Earth's botanical history.

The garden's entrance connects directly to the underground, drawing visitors between towering stone walls. Inside, ferns, mosses, and stone dominate the scene, while nearby displays of dinosaur bones reinforce the link between plants and prehistoric life. The layout mirrors the progression of plant evolution, shaping environments from grasslands to dense forests.

London's winter chill lingered longer than usual this year, with thin ice clinging to the streets. Despite the cold, the garden thrives as an outdoor exhibit in a temperate urban air—unlike tropical counterparts, such as Sri Lanka's Kandyan Spice Gardens. Those ancient systems, managed for centuries by smallholder families, blend food production, spice cultivation, and water management into rainforest-like structures.

This project is part of a broader trend in the city. London has repurposed leftover urban spaces into public gardens under regeneration schemes. The Evolution Garden, however, stands apart by offering both education and accessibility in a major global city.

The garden opened in July 2024, providing a free, immersive experience for museum visitors. Its design highlights how plants have shaped ecosystems over millions of years. The space also serves as a model for blending science, sustainability, and public access in urban landscapes.