Since 1956, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden(KFBG) has evolved from the work of the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Association (KAAA), nurturing the land for seventy years and weaving a story of coexistence between people and nature. From the early ethos of ‘Helping People Help Themselves’ to today’s mission of ‘harmonising our relationship with the environment’, our work has continually evolved in response to the needs of the times.

Footsteps of Memory

Over these years, countless moments have taken root in the soil, travelled with the streams and echoed in birdsong, animal calls and the rustle of leaves. A first handful of earth on a terraced field, a quiet morning encounter with an old tree in the mist, eye contact with a rescued animal that changes how we see the living world – these are the threads that weave our shared story with this landscape. This anniversary is an invitation to return, remember and share the stories that connect you to this place.

To awaken memory is to remember our place in nature – to recall the sensory moments that remind us we are not outsiders looking in, but part of a greater community of beings. It is also a call to honour the wisdom held in our human communities: traditional farming knowledge, ways of living with hills and water, and the capacity to live simply and gratefully within ecological limits. These are all forms of memory that help us stay balanced and well in a rapidly changing world.

Yet memory is not only about the past. It is also about how we live now, and the future we shape together – how we continue the dialogue between people and nature, guided by our love for the land, and carry this shared legacy forward. As we watch forests grow, streams wind their way downslope and animals move through the valley, we are also co‑creating the next chapter of this relationship.

We Are Nature

To mark KFBG’s 70th anniversary, we have invited four elders whose wisdom has deeply shaped our educational philosophy over the decades – Claire Elouard, Colin Campbell, Jhon Kwano and Satish Kumar. Through their guidance, we learn to attune to the subtle energies of nature, to listen to indigenous knowledge, to live with elegant simplicity and to cultivate an unconditional love for the Earth. Their teachings sit at the heart of our anniversary activities, all curated under the theme ‘Awakening of Memory’ inspired by Selvegem*, and offer pathways to remember that we already belong within the wider community of life.

Celebrate KFBG’s 70th Anniversary through the theme of Awakening of Memory

We invite you to begin your journey at KFBG by exploring these eight panels and taking part in the small interactive activities. Then, follow the trail as it climbs uphill, walking slowly among trees and streams. Along the way, pause when you feel called -- to listen to your body, to sense the living Earth around you, and to let your mind come to rest. In these quiet moments, you may wish to ask yourself: how do I wish to walk with this place, and with this planet, from here?

*Selvagem: An intersectional Indigenous-led collective from Brazil braiding together scientific, artistic and traditional knowledge, illuminating the mystery and splendour of the living world.

A Legacy in Bloom: The Double-Sided Flower Plaque

At the entrance to KFBG along Lam Kam Road stands an impressive double-sided flower plaque, a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s intangible cultural heritage. This towering structure, built of bamboo and wire and adorned with vibrant tinfoil flowers, was specially commissioned for our 70th anniversary and crafted by Master Choi Wing-kei, the second-generation successor of Wing Kei Flower Plaque.

Its unique double-sided design faces both the passing travellers on Lam Kam Road and the quiet valley within. This craft traces back to the 1950s, when villagers raised modest plaques to thank the KAAA for building dams and roads. Today’s plaque revitalises this tradition, featuring the auspicious ‘peacock in full plume’ and dragon-and-phoenix motifs that mirror the iconic twin stone pillars atop Kwun Yum Shan.

From supporting rural livelihoods to modern environmental stewardship, this plaque embodies the philosophy of ‘Coexistence with All Life’—a testament to a bond that remains as resplendent and timeless as the craft itself.

‘KFBG 70th Anniversary: A Journey of Awakening and Discovery’ Special Exhibition

Exhibition Special｜ ‘The 70-Year Hunt’: A Spot & Match Challenge

To celebrate the 70th anniversary, a richly detailed illustrated landscape of KFBG has been created for display. Like a flowing tapestry of time, this large-scale artwork gently brings together stories of people and nature, of species and land, woven across the decades. We warmly invite you to take a closer look and uncover the traces hidden within.

Visitors are welcome to draw five unique illustrated challenge cards from our on-site volunteers. Each card reveals a story from nature – take a moment to explore them, then challenge yourself to locate all five corresponding images on the large illustrated panel within two minutes. Once you’ve found them, simply point them out to a volunteer and answer a short question related to the cards to receive a small gift (available while stocks last).

Through this matching challenge, let us rediscover and reconnect with the precious memories held within this land.

Reflecting on Our Journey: A Legacy of Conservation

The passing of memory is an endless dialogue. As we journey towards our 70th anniversary, we invite you to revisit the precious historical archives and records curated during our 60th anniversary. By looking back at the stories from a decade ago, we can more deeply appreciate how this land has blossomed from barren slopes into a flourishing sanctuary.

Explore the KFBG 60th Anniversary Archive

Enquiry
Email info@kfbg.org

Related Links

• Kadoorie Earth Programme (KEP) is an initiative co-created by KFBG and its network of collaborators and volunteers. By integrating the various strands of KFBG’s nature conservation, sustainable living and holistic education programmes, it provides life-transforming learning experiences that reconnect people with themselves, each other and the rest of nature and enable them to cultivate resilience in the face of global challenges.

• Nature Art Programmes: Immerse yourself in silent contemplation of nature. Deepen your awareness of beauty and connect with nature through art. KFBG organises a variety of art workshops including Zentangle drawing, sketching and wood art, and exhibitions to guide participants, with or without artistic background, to create nature art.

• Nature Education Programmes: Become animal detectives and explore the mysteries of wild animals. Use different senses to discover the beauty of plants. Learn about the significance of forest, trees and even soils through field visits, experiments and woodwork, to reconnect with nature.

• Group Guided Tours: Led by trained environmental interpreters, the content includes experiential and hands-on activities. We encourage a passion for nature, conservation and ecology by nurturing an appreciation of the natural world.
  
  
• Corporate Programmes: Our Holistic Education Department staff can design either half-day or full-day nature education and art programmes for corporate staff or their family members based on specific needs. Leveraging the unique natural landscape and cultural ambiance of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, our activities may include guided tours, farm-to-table experiences, nature-based workshops, talks and art activities, aiming to promote understanding and practice of sustainable living for organisations.