Ahead of the opening of its transformed gardens on July 18, London’s Natural History Museum has unveiled Fern, the bronze cast of its iconic diplodocus ‘Dippy’, to the public

Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 16 Jul 2024

‘Fern’ has been officially unveiled to the public Credit: Natural History Museum
Ahead of the opening of its transformed gardens on July 18, London’s Natural History Museum has unveiled Fern, the bronze cast of its iconic diplodocus ‘Dippy’, to the public.
Covering five acres (20,230sq m), the free-to-visit green space in the heart of the British capital is part of the museum’s Urban Nature Project, which aims to increase biodiversity, accessibility, opportunities for education and the usability of the museum’s grounds.
Visitors can see Fern in Evolution Garden - a story of 2.7 billion years of history told through an immersive timeline of plants, geology, and representations of reptiles, birds and mammals. As visitors enter the garden, they will be greeted by Fern, who is accompanied by smaller bronze Hypsilophodon dinosaurs - a species that was native to the UK.
“Beneath the graceful gaze of our newest dinosaur Fern, two immersive outdoor galleries are already teeming with wildlife. It’s the perfect place for all to connect with and learn about the nature on our doorsteps,” said Dr Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum.
“We know that for people and planet to thrive, we must act to support urban nature recovery. As well as a new way for visitors to engage with the museum, our reimagined gardens will play a vital role in understanding how nature in our towns and cities is responding to a changing planet, and how we can better safeguard it.”
In addition to seeing Fern, visitors can also explore the Nature Discovery Garden, a space that will showcase the biodiversity that can be found in the UK’s urban spaces. There will also be an accessible sunken pathway that winds between the garden’s ponds, populated by both frogs and newts.
In addition to being a green space, the gardens will also become a living laboratory – a hub where Museum scientists and volunteers alike can develop best practices to protect urban nature.
Museums and galleries
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