Press Release

Enjoy stress-free Christmas shopping in the country!

Why not take a break from High Street crowds and enjoy a spot of Christmas shopping in the country this year?

Wakehurst Place at Ardingly, near Haywards Heath, is the perfect place to shop for gifts, away from the hustle and bustle.

Special late night shopping evenings are being held at Wakehurst's gift shop and plant centre on four dates in December. The evenings will be a chance to shop, see the garden's famous 35 metre high tree lit up in all its glory, and perhaps enjoy a coffee and snack in the Seed Café. On two of the dates other special events will be going on as well, see below:

Friday 1 December 2006

The lights on Wakehurst's giant tree - the largest growing Christmas tree in the UK - will be switched on at 5pm by BBC South East TV presenter Beverley Thompson.

There will also be a chance to do some festive food tasting in the gift shop.

Thursday 7 December 2006

A chance to enjoy shopping and see the Christmas tree lights

Friday 8 December 2006

A chance to enjoy shopping and see the Christmas tree lights.

Friday 15 December 2006

Wakehurst's popular open air carol concert will be held at 7pm and the gift shop will be open all day until the end of the concert.

The gift shop has a wealth of inspiring and enchanting ideas for gifts for all ages, ranging from books and toys to toiletries and tableware, along with Christmas decorations and cards. Also, for the first time, a Wakehurst Place calendar is on sale.

Another ideal year-round gift for people who enjoy the great outdoors is a season ticket to Wakehurst, which gives unlimited admission for £17.

Given its international reputation as Kew's country garden, the Wakehurst shop also has a wide selection of gardening gifts - how about a mini gardening set or flower press for a young relative, or a pair of Kew leather gardening gloves for Dad? Scientists at the Millennium Seed Bank Project, based at Wakehurst, have developed a gift with a difference for the gardener who has everything - a mini seed bank. Now you can collect and store your own seeds, following the same principles used in the Millennium Seed Bank.

Andy Jackson, Head of Wakehurst Place, said: "Christmas shopping here is relaxed and stress-free, it also helps to support the work that goes into managing and developing the woodlands, nature reserves and gardens, at Wakehurst."

On each of the special Christmas shopping evenings the shop will remain open until 7.30pm and there will be free entry to the garden to see the Christmas tree from 4.30pm.

The rest of the time the shop is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. The shop is open to garden visitors and non-visitors.

Christmas Trees will be on sale from 1 December in the plant centre (however trees will not be on sale during the evening of the carol concert on 15 December).

Wakehurst Place, at Ardingly, four miles north of Haywards Heath is open daily, from 10am to 4.30pm, every day except 24 and 25 December. Tel 01444 890466 www.kew.org

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Media enquiries:

Andy Jackson   01444 894054 or 01444 894067.

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