Press Release

Enjoy family activities at Wakehurst - Christmas 2006

Get back to nature and enjoy some family activities with a difference in the run up to Christmas at Kew's country garden.

On two Sunday afternoons during December the learning team at Wakehurst Place, near Haywards Heath, will be organising creative sessions for visitors to the garden.

Children will be able to have a go at making decorative gift boxes and festive cards to give to friends or to Mum and Dad.

The sessions will have a recycling theme, with old Christmas cards from last year being be put to good use to make the gift boxes and new cards.

Christine Newton, head of learning at Wakehurst, said: "Our family sessions are a perfect way of taking a break from the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations and enjoying some time in the countryside.

"Children love being creative and making goodies to take home to give to people at Christmas."

The drop-in family activity sessions will be held on Sundays December 10 and 17 from 1.30 to 3.30pm. The activities are free for garden visitors.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy Wakehurst's stunning 500-acre garden, which is the perfect place for a crisp winter walk, and see the country's largest growing Christmas tree - a 35 metre high giant redwood which will be lit each day from 4pm.

There's also a chance to take in a landscape photography exhibition in Wakehurst's mansion gallery, organised by the Garden Photographers Association and called Imagine Yesterday... Today.

Children's activity sessions will also be held during Wakehurst's Christmas carol concert on Friday December 15. Activities will be organised from 6pm to 8pm

Wakehurst Place, at Ardingly, four miles north of Haywards Heath is open daily, from 10am, every day except December 24 and 25. Tel 01444 894066 www.kew.org

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MEDIA enquiries to Christine Newton   01444 894055 or 01444 894067.

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