Press Release

A new range of courses has been arranged at Kew's country garden in West Sussex

The spring and early summer prospectus at Wakehurst Place, Ardinlgy, includes some exciting new courses, plus some old favourites:....

PAINTING WOODLANDS IN SPRING

Tuesday 26 April 10.30am - 4.30pm
Tutor: Judith Kirby
Venue: Wakehurst Place

This one day art workshop is designed to explore various ways of getting down visual information when time is limited, and to encourage people to devise their own 'shorthand' for doing so. Based in Bethlehem Wood, we’ll spend the morning sketching the various elements that make Spring woodlands such an appealing subject and consider the particular challenges of painting out of doors. In the afternoon, we’ll return to the wood to develop one subject in greater depth. The emphasis of the day is to enjoy the process of making a visual record of your visit whatever your level of expertise.

Course Fee: £40 (£35 Concessions, Friends of Kew)

SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP New!

Saturday 21 May 10.30am – 4.30pm
Tutors: Dr Peter Brandham & Dr John Dickie
Venue: Wakehurst Place

This is a course devoted to outdoor practical photography amidst the spring delights of Wakehurst Place with the guidance of two of Kew’s most experienced amateur photographers. The day will be spent in and around the ornamental gardens near the mansion which present a wide variety of photographic challenges. The tutors will be drawing your attention to the trees, plants and views making up the spring picture at Wakehurst and sharing their hints and tips for the best ways of capturing them on film. Suitable for proactive improvers.

Course Fee: £40 (£35 Concessions, Friends of Kew)

WILDFLOWER WALK IN THE LODER VALLEY RESERVE

Thursday 2 June 2pm – 4pm
Tutor: Arthur Hoare

The Loder Valley Nature Reserve forms part of the Wakehurst Place estate and offers the valuable combination of woodland, wetland and meadowland habitats.
In this leisurely afternoon walk around the Reserve we should be able to see a good variety of wildflowers. Agrimony, Lords & Ladies, Wavy Bitter Cress and Wood Avens are just some of the types that can normally be found here.
N.B. The afternoon will involve a fair amount of walking of a moderately strenuous level and may include some steep inclines on muddy and slippery surfaces.

Course Fee: £5

IN THE STEPS OF THE GREAT PLANT HUNTERS New!

Tuesday 14 June 10.30am – 4pm
Tutor: Anne Chapman

Have you ever thought what your garden would look like without its roses, lupins, pansies, geraniums, azaleas, rhododendrons and paeonies?
If it hadn’t been for a small band of dedicated men British gardens would have been much poorer and Botanic Gardens like Kew and Wakehurst Place may not have attained their world prominence.
Spend the day at Wakehurst Place learning about those intrepid men, what motivated them, their contribution to plant conservation and how their work has helped to shape the gardens of this 800 year old estate. See their discoveries growing throughout the grounds and meet some of Kew’s modern day plant hunters.

Course Fee: £40 (£35 Concessions, Friends of Kew)

Adult Education Co-Ordinator Royal Botanic Gardens Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TN.
Tel: 01444 894310 Fax: 01444 894061 Email: adulted@kew.org

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