This summer, we're celebrating one of the UK’s most threatened habitats: the meadow.
Through the meadows at Wakehurst and four bespoke art installations, immerse yourself in a showcase of the diverse wildflowers, grasses and wildlife that form these precious ecosystems, and be inspired to join us in protecting this rare habitat for future generations.
From June to September, Meadowland will take you through the full meadow cycle. As colours and textures change through the months, no two visits will be the same.
Dwell in one of the carefully created meadow spaces and take in the hum and buzz of pollinators busy at work.
Exclusive
For the first time ever, step into South Park – the 40 acres of ancient parkland which borders our Asian Heath Garden, where wildflower species will bloom in the height of summer.
For the whole family
Join us for our next Nature Heroes mission, Flower Power, this summer holidays – and discover the power of flowers!
Run free along the mown paths of Coronation Meadow, a carefree moment for all ages to enjoy.
Don’t miss
Our full summer programme and enjoy exciting workshops including a wildflower wander and meadow bathing, a spot of summer theatre, or join us for a magical musical journey as dusk descends.
Wakehurst’s horticulturalists
For the first time during a summer programme, our horticultural team will transform each of our meadows to help tell their stories – from swathes of flowers and grasses representing a meadow lifecycle, to wavy mown paths to encourage a playful side in all ages.
Saroj Patel: The Wings Flutter, Grasslands are Alive
Inspired by her ancestral home in Gujarat, India, and the colourful shrines carved into the foothills of the Himalayas, Saroj’s five gateways will be adorned with handsewn flags, evoking the colours of butterfly and moth wings and the flowers they pollinate.
Bells at each gateway signal a sense of arrival, evoking an inner peace when rung, completing the sacred place where plants, pollinators and people meet.
Tord Boontje: Meadow Shadow
Take a seat in Tord’s bold chairs, woven by expert craftspeople in Senegal, and find a moment of shade and comfort as you admire the flowers that flow from the base of each chair.
Heinrich & Palmer: Beeline
Find a completely new perspective through this piece of concept film by Heinrich & Palmer which asks the question, ‘what might life look like to a bee at Wakehurst?’ Drone footage and experimental filming techniques will transport you into an imaginative space as you take on ‘the eyes of a bee’ and discover how they might see a meadow.
Voices from the Meadow
Teaming up for the first time, Annabel Ross, founder and producer of the podcast series Messages from the Wild and sound artist Alice Boyd create an audio installation to be played from Irish sculptor Donnacha Cahill’s impressive piece The Gramophone, a 3.2m steel gramophone. Nestle into a crafted natural amphitheatre and listen to stories from a cinnabar moth, meadow grasshopper and scissor bee, before heading off into the landscape to see or ‘hear’ these creatures at Wakehurst.
