Discover Wakehurst’s extraordinary botanic gardens, woodland and nature reserve – set in over 500 acres of High Weald countryside.
Managed by Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, Wakehurst is also home to the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest seed conservation project in the world. The carefully managed botanic gardens give way to stunning woodlands where many of the trees are planted by areas of origin allowing you to walk through the temperate woodlands of the world. Within half a mile you can travel through Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Chile and California.
In spring, much of the woodland floor is swathed in wildflowers – with snowdrops, primroses, bluebells and orchids blooming in succession. Natural meadow land is also a joy to walk through and Coronation Meadow, planted with wildflower seed native to Sussex looks its best during the summer months.
Sandstone outcrops embedded with twisted tree roots, lichens, mosses, fungi and ferns lead down to the Loder Valley Nature Reserve. It is her that dormice, badgers, the marsh tit and butterflies flourish. Kingfishers can often be seen alongside Westwood Lake.
Children will love the natural place spaces throughout the woodlands, and, new for 2018 there is a stunning Winter Garden which will flourish later in the year.
Wakehurst is also the most biodiverse place on Earth thanks to the Millennium Seed Bank which stands in its grounds. Here seeds from all over the world are used by Kew scientists for research as well as being conserved for future use in vaults deep underground.
A rolling programme of family friendly festivals and activities throughout the year means that Wakehurst is always buzzing with life – Wild Wood Festival, 26th – 28th May, the Kew Science Festival at Wakehurst, 21st and 22nd July, Bountiful Botanics 13th and 14th October, plus our evocative Glow Wild, winter lantern festival from the end of November. School holiday fun also ensures children are never
bored.
With a restaurant and café in the grounds you are never far from delicious refreshments to make your day at Wakehurst complete.
https://www.kew.org/wakehurst
