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Start, an initiative by HRH The Prince of Wales to inspire the UK public to take simple steps towards achieving more sustainable living, is delighted to announce Start@Kew, a five day interactive eco-extravaganza of entertainment and simple ideas located in the historic Kew Gardens from 25 - 29 August.

Start@Kew will give visitors simple sustainable living ideas that they can start doing to make a difference. This family event will inspire people with sustainable ideas they can start on right now. The event will have entertainment, playful discovery and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Set within the beautiful grounds of Kew Gardens, visitors will be able to access Start@Kew, along with everything else Kew has to offer, for the general Kew admission price. Start@Kew will be located on a magnificent site between Kew Palace and the Kew Orangery and will be bursting with kids and family activities, a performance area, exhibits, demonstrations and interactive experiences that show the proven benefits of using fewer resources such as energy, water, food, fuel and materials.

Joey Tabone, CEO of Start, says: “The gorgeous environment of Kew and its connection with the natural world is the perfect setting for inspiring people. Everyone who comes to Kew at the end of August will be guaranteed a stimulating and memorable family day out – and of course a great Start experience that will be truly inspirational.”

Professor Angela McFarlane, Director of Public Engagement and Learning at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, says, “We are delighted to be working with Start to welcome the festival to the Gardens. This partnership reflects Kew’s mission to use plant-based solutions to mitigate the effects of environmental change and to help each and every one of us to understand how we can make a start at living more sustainably.”

The Start initiative is supported by a whole host of celebrities all trying to make their own difference and have already made a Start by making a sustainable promise:

Barbara Windsor: “Britain is such a beautiful place to holiday in, I’m going to Start promising to encourage people to ‘Carry On Camping’.”

Alan Titchmarsh: “I promise to start cycling again and avoid using the car for local journeys. Anyway, you can get a better view into folks’ gardens from a bike!”

Kirstie Allsopp: “I promise to keep my house as stylish and comfy as possible by dressing all the windows with gorgeous ‘homemade’ curtains and to always draw them closed at the right times so I’m warm in winter and cool in summer!"

Start@Kew takes place from 25-29 August 2011
Kew Gardens opens daily at 9:30am.
Tickets are priced: £13.90 for adults, £11.90 concessions, and children go free.
Tickets are available from www2.seetickets.com/kew

www.startuk.org