Winter warmers at Wakehurst Place

Press release, December 2009

Blow away the cobwebs and work off the after effects of festive feasting with a bracing walk in one of the country's most glorious gardens.

Wakehurst Place, Kew 's country estate in the heart of the Sussex countryside near Haywards Heath, is open every day throughout the festive season, apart from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

It is the perfect place to get out in the fresh air and get back to nature with friends and family.

Even in mid-winter there is plenty to enjoy around the 500 acre estate, with formal gardens, woodland walks, eyecatching views, ponds, a lake and nature reserves.

Among the seasonal highlights for visitors:

Enjoy the spectacle of England 's largest growing Christmas tree, a towering 113-foot giant redwood, which is illuminated daily from 4pm until January 5
Follow a family Winter Warmer trail around the gardens, discovering more about some of the plants and trees in Wakehurst's collection. (Pick up a trail leaflet from the Visitor Centre.)
Wander through the Winter Garden, which will be at its best with striking foliage, shrubs and flowers, including dogwoods, witch hazels and winter flowering rhododendrons.
Take in an open-air gallery of award winning photography, showcasing the finalists in the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition. The exhibition runs until February 14.
Warm up with a hot drink or meal after a walk in the Seed Café or Stables Restaurant.

There is also an opportunity to learn about pioneering work being carried out to safeguard threatened species in an interactive exhibition at Kew 's Millennium Seed Bank, at Wakehurst Place . The Seed Bank is the largest wild plant seed conservation project in the world and this year celebrated collecting, banking and conserving 10% of the world's wild plant species.

Andy Jackson, Head of Wakehurst Place, said: “A winter walk at Wakehurst is a great way to enjoy some fresh air and exercise after all the Christmas celebrations.

“For many of our visitors a Boxing Day or New Year walk here is a festive tradition. It is a great way to unwind after the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations and there is something for all ages to enjoy.”

Note to editors

For more information, call Andy Jackson on 01444 894067, Kew press office on 020 8332 5607 or email pr@kew.org.
To download winter images please visit http://www.kew.org/press/images/wakehurst

Wakehurst Place is home to formal gardens, natural woodlands, nature reserves and a sixteenth century Mansion ; plus the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild seed collection in the world. Wakehurst is located on the B2028 between Ardingly and Turners Hill (Junction 10 off the M23), West Sussex and open daily from 10am , except December 24 and 25. For more information telephone 01444 894067 or visit www.kew.org.

For further Press information please contact:

Kew:
Public Relations
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond
Surrey TW9 3AB
UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 8332 5607/5619
Email: pr@kew.org

Wakehurst Place:
Public Relations
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Wakehurst Place
Ardingly
West Sussex RH17 6TN
UK
Tel: +44 (0)1444 894018
Email: msb@kew.org