Wakehurst celebrates King’s Coronation with launch of new family activities

Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, has announced a host of new and refreshed family activities to mark the Coronation of King Charles III.

Forming the perfect opportunity to get outside and enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend celebrations, the new trails and children’s play areas are designed to inspire a passion for the environment, a cause long-supported by His Royal Majesty. From messy play to adventures deep in the woods, there promises to be something for all ages.

Brand-new to Wakehurst is Wild Wood, a bespoke sculpture trail in the heart of Pearcelands Wood, a beautiful 20-acre ancient woodland which is reopening to the public for the first time in three years. Against a dazzling backdrop of springtime bluebells, the trail will form an inspiring natural gallery of woven structures, hand-crafted by Wakehurst staff and local artists. Opening on 6 May to mark the Coronation celebrations, the trail celebrates biodiversity, demonstrating the unique partnerships between plants, wildlife and people. Visitors are invited to climb onto an oversized hand-woven hazel chair, curl up in giant nests, and spot native wildlife favourites such as masterfully crafted deer and badgers, as there are over 20 sculptures deep in the coppiced woodland to discover.

For young explorers looking to burn off some energy and get active in the great outdoors, the natural log trail Tree Trunk Trek will be reopening with a refreshed new look. Nestled in a glade amongst the Australian pines of Coates Wood, Tree Trunk Trek encourages child to climb, crawl and jump their way across the course, whilst getting up close with Wakehurst’s diverse collection of trees.

As one of the two gardens in the country that forms the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Wakehurst is the perfect spot for friends and families of all generations to celebrate the Coronation together. With shady glades and expansive landscapes across the 535-acre site, there’s space for everyone. A range of delicious dishes will be on offer from the Stables Kitchen and Seeds Café to enjoy amidst the stunning surroundings, or visitors are welcome to bring their own food for al fresco dining with a difference. Wakehurst’s top picnic spot recommendations are overlooking Mansion Pond where the reflections of acers, pampas grass and a majestic swamp cypress shimmer in spring sunshine, or venture further afield and find a sheltered spot in the wild woodlands under the branches of delicate British birches or dramatic North American redwoods.

Wakehurst's Coronation Meadow, created in 2015 in response to the then Prince of Wales’ call for new wildflower meadows to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation, will also reopen to mark the weekend. The undulating landscape of British native flowers and grasses boasts sensational views of the Sussex High Weald.

Lorraine Lecourtois, Head of Public Programmes said:

“Using our biodiverse landscape to create a natural playground, we’re thrilled to be launching new activities for the Coronation Weekend, which promise to unlock the adventurous side of every visitor. At Wakehurst, we are always looking for spaces to develop, ensuring that there is something new to discover on every visit. By refreshing existing areas and opening new trails, we’re excited to get families connecting with nature.”

Ends

For more information, images and interviews please contact Jessica Hayne, Communications & Content Executive on j.hayne@kew.org.

Notes to Editors

Ticket Information

Gardens entry
Adult: £14.95
Late entry from 3.30pm: £7.50
Children (0-16): Free
Recipients of Universal or Pension Credit: £1
Blue Light Card holders: Free

Book your ticket at www.kew.org/wakehurst

Habitat Hero
27 May – 4 June 2023
10am – 5.30pm
Kew and Wakehurst early opening (9am): 27 & 28 May, 3 & 4 June 2023.

Habitat hero mission: £3 per badge
Non-member Nature Hero cape:  £13.50 per cape
Member Nature Hero cape: £6.75 per cape

More information at: www.kew.org/wakehurst/whats-on/nature-heroes/habitat-hero

Make a bee hotel drop-in session
Daily, £4.50 per bee hotel

Please note, the Habitat Hero mission and drop-in session take place in areas of the gardens where dog walking is prohibited. Visitors arriving with dogs will be asked to respect the dedicated dog walking route.

 

Please note that Wakehurst is referred to just as Wakehurst, not Wakehurst Place. It is not a National Trust property.

The National Trust was bequeathed the Mansion and grounds of Wakehurst in 1963. It was then entrusted to us here at Kew in 1965, and we now work in partnership with the National Trust to care for our collections and heritage areas.

Wakehurst is Kew’s wild botanic garden in the Sussex High Weald. Its ancient and beautiful landscapes span 535 acres and are a place for escape, exploration, tranquillity, and wonder. Its diverse collection of plants from Britain and around the globe thrive within a tapestry of innovative gardens, temperate woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. Wakehurst is a centre for UK biodiversity and global conservation, seed research and ecosystem science. At its heart is Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, the world’s largest store of seeds from wild plant species.

RBG Kew receives approximately one third of its funding from Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding needed to support RBG Kew’s vital work comes from donors, membership and commercial activity including ticket sales. In the first six months since implementing a new accessibility scheme for those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Legacy Benefits, Kew has welcomed 10,000 visitors with £1 tickets.

At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, we’re dedicated to harnessing the power of plants and fungi to end the extinction crisis and secure a future for all life on Earth. With our world-leading research, global partnerships and beloved gardens – home to the world’s most diverse collections of plants and fungi – we’re using our trusted voice to shape policy and practice worldwide. As a charity we rely on the critical support of our visitors, not only to sustain the gardens, but to protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity.