Barbican Conservatory to give away 2,000 free plant cuttings

Key Points:

• The Barbican Conservatory is offering over 2,000 free plant cuttings to the public before its three-year closure for a £231m restoration starting in January, with events scheduled on 23 August, 13 September, and 2 December requiring online booking.
• The restoration aims to create a climate-controlled habitat to improve plant health, add a new lift and staircase for raised balcony access, relandscape for optimal growing conditions, and make the building fully accessible.
• The Conservatory, a Grade II listed arts venue, currently opens several times a month but will be open daily from 2030 with free entry, while also preserving the Barbican's brutalist foyers and lakeside terrace.
• Plant cuttings such as monstera, ficus, and tradescantia are being shared in collaboration with Wayward Plants Reuse Centre, with each event providing information on the Conservatory's architectural history and plant collection development.
• Barbican COO Dr Philippa Simpson emphasized the restoration’s goal to create a healthier environment for plants and enhance public enjoyment, describing the cuttings as "the beginning of something new" for a greener and more welcoming Conservatory.