Become a junior plant hunter at Kew's country estate this half term

Youngsters can become plant hunters for a day as they have fun finding out about nature at Kew's country estate this half term.

Special children's activities will be held at Wakehurst Place at Ardingly, near Haywards Heath, on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of half term week (May 26 to 28) from 10.30am to 3.30pm.

Young visitors will be able to make a plant hunter's journal and go off on a trail of discovery around the gardens. After completing the trail they will be encouraged to design their own unique plant and give it a name - just as Victorian plant hunters did when they came across a new species.

Children will also be able to create colourful daisies for a giant daisy chain and blooms for a 'curious climber' - a weird and wonderful trailing display which will creep around part of Wakehurst's historic mansion. Half term activities cost £1 to cover the cost of materials (Normal admission applies - accompanied children are admitted free at Wakehurst).

Susan Allan, Co-ordinator of School and Family Learning at Wakehurst Place, said: "We are celebrating Kew 's 250th anniversary this year and following in the footsteps of the great planters, who contributed so much to Kew and Wakehurst's collections, is a great way for youngsters to have fun and learn about nature at the same time."

Throughout half term there are plenty of other features around the 500-acre Wakehurst estate for families to enjoy, in addition to the organised activities.

For example:

• Pick up a leaflet at the Visitor Centre and take part in a Plant Spy 'Thinking Walk', inspired by the anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, with questions and activities along the route.
• Check out the new Meadows exhibition, housed in a traditional timber building, complete with grazing willow 'sheep', and hear the recorded stories of generations of local farmers.
• Search for hidden pictures of seeds in Kew 's Millennium Seed Bank and find out fascinating facts about them.

Note to Editors

• For more information ring the Wakehurst Learning Team on +44 (0)1444 894055, email wakehurst@kew.org , pr@kew.org or call +44 (0)20 8332 5607.
• To download general Wakehurst images please visit http://www.kew.org/press/images/wakehurst. Please contact the Press Office for username and password.

Wakehurst Place is home to formal gardens, natural woodlands, nature reserves and a Sixteenth-century mansion; plus Kew 's Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild seed collection in the world. Wakehurst is located on the B2028 between Ardingly and Turners Hill, West Sussex (Junction 10 off the M23) and open daily from 10am, except December 24 and 25. For more details visit our Wakehurst Place pages or ring +44(0)1444 894067.