一座會說氣候故事的花園

「碳花園」（The Carbon Garden）不僅是一片綠地，更是一間活生生的氣候教室——每一座結構、每一面牆體、甚至每一層土壤，都在述說氣候變遷的故事。園區採用低碳木材、亞麻複合材料與花崗岩基座建造，展示了如何透過建材與設計降低環境足跡，同時為城市永續提供靈感。

The Carbon Garden is not just a patch of greenery - it is a living climate classroom. Every structure, every wall, and even every layer of soil tells a story about climate change. Built from low-carbon timber, flax-based composites, and granite foundations, the garden demonstrates how building materials and design choices can reduce environmental footprints while offering inspiration for urban sustainability.

真菌啟發的生態展亭

園區的核心，是由 Mizzi Studio 設計、以真菌為靈感的展亭。枝狀結構仿照地下菌絲網絡的形態，象徵它們在自然界中傳輸碳、維持土壤健康的關鍵角色。這不只是設計美學，更提醒人們生態系彼此依存的真相。

A Fungus-Inspired Ecological Pavilion

At the heart of the garden stands a pavilion designed by Mizzi Studio, inspired by the intricate underground networks of fungi. Its branch-like structure mirrors the form of mycelial networks, symbolic of their vital role in transporting carbon and sustaining soil health. This is more than an aesthetic choice - it is a reminder of the deep interdependence within ecosystems.

雨水自展亭頂端傾瀉，經過精心規劃的引流系統進入「生物濕地雨水花園」（bioswale rain garden），在此被減緩流速、過濾污染物，並回滲土壤。這套水循環系統既具功能性，也承載象徵意義——示範城市如何在減輕環境壓力的同時管理暴雨逕流。

Rainwater cascades from the pavilion’s roof into a carefully designed bioswale rain garden, where its flow is slowed, pollutants are filtered, and water seeps back into the soil. This water cycle is both functional and symbolic - demonstrating how cities can manage stormwater runoff while easing environmental stress.

氣候條紋化為綠植色譜

花園中另一個引人注目的設計，是靈感來自科學家 Ed Hawkins 創作的「氣候條紋」（Climate Stripes）視覺化圖像。沿著邊界種植的植物，由冷調藍色漸變至鮮紅色，象徵全球氣溫的長期上升。

透過將氣候數據轉化為顏色與形態，花園讓參觀者在情感與視覺上直觀感受氣候變遷的緊迫性，無須依賴複雜的圖表或曲線圖。

為更炎熱的倫敦預作準備

碳花園也以實際植栽示範氣候適應策略——種植薰衣草、迷迭香與絲蘭等耐旱物種，模擬未來倫敦氣候可能趨近巴塞隆納的情景。這些植物不僅耐乾旱，還能藉由深根系統持續固碳。

Climate Stripes as a Living Plant Palette

Another striking feature draws inspiration from climate scientist Ed Hawkins’ Climate Stripes visualization. Along the garden’s edge, plantings shift gradually from cool blues to vibrant reds, reflecting the steady rise in global temperatures.

By translating climate data into colors and living forms, the garden gives visitors an immediate, emotional understanding of climate urgency - without relying on complex graphs or charts.

Preparing for a Hotter London

The Carbon Garden also serves as a model for climate adaptation. Lavender, rosemary, and yucca - plants resilient to drought - are cultivated to simulate a future in which London’s climate could resemble Barcelona’s. These species not only thrive in dry conditions but also sequester carbon through deep root systems.

園中展示的貧瘠沙質土壤與策略性覆蓋（mulching），提供都市與家庭園藝應對熱浪與土壤侵蝕的可行方案，為「氣候智慧型後院」提供可複製的藍圖。

雨水花園：功能與碳效益兼具

園區的雨水花園與生物濕地不僅管理暴雨逕流，還能捕捉與儲存碳。土壤微生物分解有機物，將碳鎖存在根系與土層中；地面植栽則吸引授粉者、鳥類與益蟲，讓此地成為繁盛的微型生態系。

Exhibits of sandy, low-fertility soils and strategic mulching demonstrate practical methods for combating heatwaves and soil erosion, offering a replicable blueprint for “climate-smart backyards.”

Rain Gardens: Function Meets Carbon Benefit

The rain garden and bioswale do more than manage stormwater - they also capture and store carbon. Soil microbes break down organic matter, locking carbon in root systems and soil layers, while ground-level plants attract pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects, creating a thriving micro-ecosystem.

From Exhibition to Everyday Action

Although the Carbon Garden is an immersive exhibition, its lessons can be applied directly to daily life:

從展覽到日常的啟示

雖然碳花園是一個沉浸式展覽，其理念卻可直接應用於日常生活：

當這些小行動被廣泛複製，普通庭園也能成為氣候盟友。

氣候教育的新想像

When widely replicated, these small actions can turn ordinary gardens into climate allies.

A New Vision for Climate Education

Kew 的碳花園融合故事、科學與設計，讓氣候教育既互動又具情感共鳴。它不僅傳遞數據，更以「活的隱喻」啟發學校、社區花園與城市規劃者，採用類似的模式。

Kew’s Carbon Garden merges storytelling, science, and design to make climate education both interactive and emotionally resonant. It conveys more than just data - it acts as a living metaphor, inspiring schools, community gardens, and city planners to adopt similar models.

走進碳花園，訪客不只是觀賞景觀，而是踏入了一個關於如何與變遷中的氣候共存的願景——一次一座花園，讓未來更具韌性。

Stepping into the Carbon Garden is not simply about admiring a landscape - it is an encounter with a vision of how to coexist with a changing climate. One garden at a time, it plants the seeds of a more resilient future.