Plants, Horticulture and Gardens at Wakehurst
Support Kew's country estate in West Sussex - 453 acres of ornamental gardens, temperate woodlands and the stunning Water Garden.
As well as the formal beds, such as the Winter Garden, the gardens at Wakehurst are home to National Collections of Skimmia, Hypericum, Betula and Nothofagus.
Wakehurst is home to formal gardens, natural woodlands, nature reserves and a Sixteenth century mansion; plus Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild seed collection in the world.
Wakehurst has several water features including the Bog Garden, Iris Dell, Slips and Water Gardens, which all give outstanding displays through the seasons.
The Loder Valley Nature Reserve is Wakehurst’s best kept secret. It is a magical place of ancient woodlands, flower rich meadows and network of hedgerows and streams. The reserve was opened in 1980 and is now managed as as a centre for conservation and education. The reserve is open all year round (visitor numbers are limited to protect sensitive habitats).
The National Plant Collections at Wakehurst
The four collections at Wakehurst represent the most comprehensive collections of these genera in cultivation in the UK. National Plant Collections were instigated by Plant Heritage in 1983 to conserve the rich garden flora of the British Isles. The establishment of designated collections of plants created a conservation resource by gathering together all the species and cultivars within particular genera or defined groups. Today there are over 600 National Plant Collections throughout the UK.
- Betula – Birches
The longest established and most comprehensive of Wakehurst's four National Plant Collections is the birch collection in Bethlehem Wood. It is regarded by several experts as being the most comprehensive in cultivation anywhere.
- Hypericum – St John’s worts
The Hypericum collection holds a wide range of species and cultivars, with accurate details of their origins, which have been used in taxonomic studies of the genus. Most of the plants are grown in the Specimen Beds close to the Mansion, where they provide late summer colour.
- Nothofagus – Southern beeches
The collection at Wakehurst in Coates’ Wood contains 15 of the 19 species. The genetic diversity of the collection is being increased by planting specimens grown from material collected at different locations, and by adding material of species not previously cultivated at Wakehurst.
- Skimmia
In the wild, Skimmia comprises four well-defined species, all of Asian origin. All Skimmia species currently in cultivation are represented in the collection at Wakehurst, and have been accurately named in line with the results of Kew’s studies of the genus. These plants are located in the Winter Garden, the Chapel lawn beds, and most are concentrated in new plantings in the Kangaroo Pen. Their evergreen foliage and, in the case of female clones, berries contribute to the ornamental theme.
Find out more about the National Collections at Wakehurst
How your donation can make a difference
By giving a donation today you can help us look after our stunning gardens for future generations to experience and enjoy. Your gift will help us:
- inspire hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with a passion for plants and the natural world
- support our world-class team of horticulturalists
- continue caring for the National plant collections at Wakehurst
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Introducing the Kew Fund
The Kew Fund is an annual fundraising campaign that pools the collective force of thousands of individuals to make a big impact with their contributions at Kew. Through the Kew Fund, we ask members and supporters to make a contribution to support our extraordinary institution.
Kew relies on a mix of funding including philanthropy, government grants from Defra, as well as memberships, gate receipts and other earned income. Kew’s annual budget is around £50 million, of which almost 50 per cent is provided by non-government sources.
Every contribution, no matter what size, makes a difference. You can make a regular gift by Direct Debit, or give by credit/debit card online (or download a form to post). We’ll keep you in touch with how your support is helping Wakehurst Place.
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How you are helping
Kew is taking part in the 'Big Give Christmas Challenge'
09 Nov 2012
This year, Kew is taking part in the 'Big Give Christmas Challenge', a campaign to encourage philanthropic giving by matching a donors’ gift. Effectively your donation to the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership could be doubled! We need to raise £50,000 for next year’s seed collecting trips, as well as expanding our work on using existing collections. Please note: This campaign ran from 6 to 19 December 2012 and has now finished.
Your donations can help Kew inspire visitors through our Gardens
21 Aug 2012
A recent donation from a Kew supporter will give more of our visitors the chance to explore our beautiful Gardens.
Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Partnership ‘top banana’ as it celebrates banking 10% of the world’s wild plant species.
15 Oct 2009
Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Partnership is celebrating collecting, banking and conserving 10% of the world’s wild plant species by banking its 24,200th plant species.
Patrons tour of the Palm House
27 Jul 2012
A group of Kew Patrons enjoyed a revealing tour of Kew's most iconic glasshouse. Palm House Manager Wesley Shaw spoke about the history of the building, the plants in the collection and the day-to-day work of maintaining this unique part of the Gardens.
