Press Release

Wakehurst Place visitors break garden's records

The number of visitors to Wakehurst Place broke all records in April, the busiest month ever at Kew's ‘country garden', home of the Millennium Seed Bank and 500 acres of exotic plant collections, natural woodlands and wetland conservation areas.

Whilst April is historically a popular month at Wakehurst, nearly 60,000 visitors were welcomed, an 18% increase on last year's figures for the same month. This followed hot on the heels of an unprecedented number of visitors during the 2006/7 financial year, when some 450,000 people enjoyed Wakehurst's unique combination of formal gardens with one of the most important conservation sites in south-east England.

“It was a pleasure to see so many visitors in April,” commented Andy Jackson, head of Wakehurst Place. “Undoubtedly, the exceptional spring weather was a significant factor in attracting people to enjoy outdoor activities. Our gardens are looking truly beautiful just now, as the sunshine is causing many flowers to bloom earlier than usual, in particular the water gardens. We anticipate the irises will be in flower at the beginning of June this year, instead of July.”

The Millennium Seed Bank is also enjoying an increase in visitors who are coming to see the recently collected billionth seed.

Wakehurst Place, managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is located at Ardingly, four miles north of Haywards Heath. It is open daily, from 10am, every day except December 24 and 25. For general enquiries, tel 01444 894066 or visit www.kew.org

MEDIA enquiries and image requests to the Press Office on 01444 894018 or email msb@kew.org

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