As seen on TV: The story of Wakehurst’s American Prairie, one year on

In the heart of Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, stretches a vast American Prairie. Starring as a summer showstopper and site of scientific research, the tale of Wakehurst’s American Prairie is told as part of a new six-part documentary on Channel 5 this August.

Airing on Tuesday 23^rd August, the fifth episode of Kew Gardens: A Year in Bloom celebrates the story of how the seed of an idea came from Ed Ikin, Director of Wakehurst, who wanted to conserve this highly endangered habitat and bring vital prairie research to Sussex. With exclusive access behind the scenes, viewers can meet the people behind the prairie, as the team bring the spectacular landscape to life.

Ed Ikin, Director of Wakehurst, said: 'With only 1% of these diverse ecosystems remaining, our American Prairie will highlight the importance of these habitats and share our knowledge of this threatened ecosystem. It is a reminder of the importance of biodiversity, with a unique mix of plants co-existing together, reducing competition and benefiting wildlife. Following a process of carefully managed horticultural practices, this prairie will go through the natural stresses it would experience in its native habitat, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this stunning landscape evolves over the next few years.'

In series 1, first broadcast in 2021, viewers saw the successful first sow of seeds across the prairie, hand-collected by Wakehurst horticulturalists in America. A carefully selected blend of non-native species brought this conservation experiment to life.

Now, the American Prairie dazzles in the second series as a vibrant six-acre sea of yellow. Viewers get a unique insight into the different stages of the prairie’s life cycle, from a dramatic first mow to the arrival of 50,000 plug plants that have successfully germinated in the Wakehurst nursery, ready for planting.

A summer showstopper

Three years in the making, visitors to Wakehurst can see the American Prairie at its peak this summer. Home to pioneering plants such as Coreopsis lanceolata and Rudbeckia hirta, the prairie brings swathes of colour to the Wakehurst vista and has become an immersive attraction at the heart of the site. The majestic grasslands offer fully accessible pathways and shaded patches, the perfect picnic spot or simply an inspiring space to admire new life and colour. This unique horticultural experiment invites visitors to journey from the Atlantic Coastal Plains, through the tallgrass plains of the South Central Prairie and the grasslands of the Pacific Northwest.

The science behind the prairie

Featured throughout this series of Kew Gardens: A Year in Bloom, is Wakehurst’s pioneering research programme, Nature Unlocked. The show provides a glimpse into how this multi-faceted study has transformed Wakehurst into a living laboratory, as Kew Scientists use the different biodiverse habitats at the Sussex site to carry out groundbreaking research on carbon storage, pollination, hydrology and wellbeing.

One year since the launch of Nature Unlocked, the American Prairie has taken on a new role, as Kew Scientists are using this landscape to investigate the benefits of native and non-native plant species for pollinators. Dr Hauke Koch is mapping Wakehurst’s pollinator population, investigating whether non-native grassland could provide adequate nutritional value for native pollinators in Sussex or whether they could help to supplement resources from native plants and enhance pollinator abundance and diversity.

MSc student Rafia Sultana Hogg is investigating the invasiveness of the non-native species, by measuring their ‘seed rain’. By studying the seed dispersal traits of six key species, she aims to assess the threat they pose to the native species.

The future of the prairie

As viewers of A Year in Bloom will learn, the American Prairie has a dramatic future ahead, as the landscape will go through some of the natural stresses it would face in its home habitat, including a managed burn. With different plant species emerging at each stage, this stunning landscape will continue to evolve, transforming into a true spectacle at Wakehurst, and is one not to be missed.

Watch episode 5 of Kew Gardens: A Year in Bloom as it airs on Channel 5, at 8pm on Tuesday 23^rd August or on demand, and experience the American Prairie in person this summer at Wakehurst.