Meet our Board of Trustees
This week, we’re celebrating Trustees Week and the incredible contribution of our wonderful trustees at the Powell-Cotton Trust.
Welcome to the Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens
Famous for our natural history dioramas, featuring animals from tiny tortoises to enormous elephants, you’ll be amazed at what we have on display. Find us in Birchington, just a stone’s throw from the popular seaside town of Margate.
We’re open Wednesday – Sunday until 31st August. Your summer starts here! Check our What’s On page for the latest events and activities. We can’t wait to welcome you!
Plan your visitFind Out More
This is an exciting time for the Museum, Quex House and Gardens and we’ve got a lot to share with you. From restoration projects to new learning content and initiatives, follow the links to connect with us.
Explore our new digital guide
We’re excited to announce the launch of our brand-new digital guide, available now on the free Bloomberg Connects app.
We're an Accredited Museum!
We’re proud to announce that the Powell-Cotton Museum has once again achieved Museum Accreditation!
Discover our collections
Explore the map to discover just some of the objects in our collection and where they are from.
Our natural history curator Rachel, Rosie and Catherine from our Gardens team stepped inside the Gallery 1 dioramas this week to look closely at the plants.
They’re helping us research how the dioramas were made and what materials were used, while also exploring the fascinating links between the gardens and the museum, which species may have been grown locally, and whether any still grow in Quex Garden today.
The plants in Gallery 1 are a careful mix of real foliage and replicas. In the 1930s, Percy Powell-Cotton sought advice from Arthur Hill, then Director of @kewgardens, to ensure the vegetation looked convincing.
The results of their first findings are fascinating. The vines in the primate and tiger dioramas are made from real clematis stems (likely grown locally), finished with artificial leaves copied from an Indian liana. Many of the trees in the large diorama also appear to be hawthorn, fitted with handmade leaves.
With plenty of photographs taken, the team will now investigate further and see how many more species can be identified and whether living links to these dioramas are still growing in the gardens today.
#PowellCottonMuseum #QuexGardens #NaturalHistory #BehindTheScenes #Diorama #MuseumResearch #BotanicalHistory #NaturalHistory
As the year draws to a close, staff members, volunteers, and our community group took some time to come together and celebrate in our Winter Garden this week!
We all enjoyed a comforting lunch of fresh vegetable soup, made with produce straight from the garden, followed by flatbreads from our pizza oven and a tempting selection of biscuits, cakes, and traybakes, all lovingly baked by our teams.
It was lovely to gather in this special space and celebrate all that we’ve achieved together.
What are your favourite ways to celebrate the season?
#QuexGardens #SunshinePorject #WinterGarden #GardenToTable #CommunitySpirit
We had a wonderful festive wreath making session today in the winter gardens.
Some stunning wreaths being taken home today, all made from foliage freshly picked from Quex Garden and with expert guidance from our head gardener Sue.
#Wreathmaking #festivewreaths #wreathworkshop #quexgardens
The weather has been a lot colder this week, but we managed to plant the last of the spring bulbs for our pot display next year, and we learnt about making beautiful, brightly coloured mosaics with artist @juliaellenlancaster_ceramics.
We also harvested Leeks, Spinach, Dill, Landcress, Bay and Rosemary for @angelas_of_margate.
What have you been harvesting this autumn?
#SunshineProject #QuexGardens #AutumnHarvest #CommunityGarden #SpringBulbs #MosaicArt #GardenProjects #MargateGardens #GrowYourOwn
Drop in to Quex Gardens anytime between 11am–3pm this Friday 24 October and get hands-on with clay in this relaxed, family-friendly workshop with @juliaellenlancaster_ceramics.
No experience needed - just bring your imagination! Inspired by the beauty of the autumn garden, you’ll create your own clay tile to contribute to a permanent artwork in our historic walled garden.
You can also enjoy Gentle Yoga, feel the rhythm with African Drumming, and explore the Beastly Bones event in the museum!
All activities are included with your standard admission ticket:
Adults £7.50, Concessions £7, Children £6.50 and Infants (3 and under) FREE
#WellbeingTasterDay #QuexGardens #CeramicsWorkshop #FamilyFun #HalfTermActivities #KentEvents
Find inner calm and balance in Quex Gardens with a gentle yoga session led by @elise.anna.carter on Friday 24 October.
Elise’s classes are accessible and grounding with a focus on seasonal rhythms and connection to the natural world.
Suitable for all abilities, this class focuses on slow, mindful movement and deep breathing - the perfect way to ease into your day in the peaceful surroundings of our gardens.
Drop-in sessions at 11.30 am and 1.30pm. Included in your standard admission ticket.
#QuexGardens #GentleYoga #YogaForAll #NatureConnection #SeasonalYoga
Join us for our final Wellbeing Taster Day of the year on Friday 24 October, and enjoy a relaxed day of free, nature-based activities in our historic garden — a space full of life, heritage and seasonal beauty.
Activities include:
Drop-in Ceramics Workshop with @juliaellenlancaster_ceramics
Gentle Yoga with Elise Carter @elise.anna.carter
African Drumming with Jane Henya @janehenya and Jambo Africa
It’s the perfect chance to unwind and experience nature’s therapy on your doorstep as our gardens glow with autumn colour. 🍂
All activities are included with your standard admission ticket. Garden-only tickets are available at a reduced price - ask at reception for details.
#WellbeingTasterDay #QuexGardens #ThanetEvents #KentLife #FindWellbeingThroughNature #HistoricGarden #NatureTherapy #SeasonalBeauty #RootedInCommunity
This week, we were joined by brilliant ceramics artist @juliaellenlancaster_ceramics
The Sunshine Project groups are working together to produce a ceramic art work, which will be permanently displayed in the garden! We can’t yet reveal what the final artwork will look like…. but we can tell you it is inspired by seasonal change, and especially the trees we have here at Quex - whose leaves are turning from green to shades of orange, amber and red at the moment.🍁
Julia will also be joining us at our final well-being day of the year on Friday 24th October! So why not come and have a go at the tile workshop for yourself?
These activities are all possible thanks to support from @aimmuseums and @dcmsgovuk Connecting Communities programme.
#sunshineproject #ceramics #autumnleaves #art #creativeworkshop #QuexGardens
We’re at the East Kent ploughing match in Quex Park today, here to celebrate Kent farmers and the incredible work they do to put fresh, locally grown food on our tables.
Our garden team have brought a taste of our Victorian Walled Gardens to the show too - with homegrown potatoes, onions, tomatoes, beetroot and more for sale.
Come and say hello and stock up on some homegrown goodness!
#kentploughingmatch #kentfarming #locallygrownfood #quexgardens
Feel the beat! Join @janehenya, founder and director of charity Jambo Africa, for an energising African Drumming Sessions as part of our Wellbeing Taster Day this Friday 26 September.
Whether you’re new to drumming or have tried it before, these sessions are are a joyful way to lift your spirits!
Drumming sessions at 12.30 & 2.00pm on the Winter Garden Terrace, Quex Gardens
Our Wellbeing Taster Days are supported by @aimmuseums funded by the @dcmsgovuk Connecting Communities programme.
#WellbeingTasterDay #QuexGardens #AfricanDrumming #JamboAfrica #ThanetEvents #KentLife #CommunityRhythms
Come and taste the delicious produce of our garden!
Join local artist & chef @annienicholsartist in Quex Gardens on Friday 26 September for a special Cooking with Garden Produce Taster Session.
From 11:30 – 1:30, Annie will be cooking up simple, delicious tasters using herbs and vegetables grown by our staff and community volunteers right here in the Victorian Walled Garden. Drop in, try something new, and get inspired by what’s in season.
This event is part of our Wellbeing Taster Day at Quex Gardens - free activities all day including African drumming, garden insect walks, and a listening tent.
Supported by @aimmuseums & @dcmsgovuk Connecting Communities programme.
#WellbeingTasterDay #QuexGardens #GardenToTable #SeasonalCooking #ThanetEvents #KentLife
Save the Date! Our popular Festive Wreath-Making Workshops are returning to Quex Gardens this winter 🌿
Workshops will take place in the Winter Gardens on 29 & 30 November and 6 & 7 December.
Tickets will be available for purchase starting at 10am on Friday, 26 September. Mark your diaries and book early, as they sell out fast!
#FestiveWorkshops #WreathMaking #PowellCottonMuseum #QuexGardens #ChristmasAtQuex
