What's on this April at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst
Release date: 2 April 2025
- Join Supertato and his heroic veggie friends for a spud-tastic family day out at Kew Gardens this Easter
- Families can outwit Mr and Mrs Twit on The Twits trail at Wakehurst this Easter
- New exhibition The Power of Trees showcases the spectacular influence of our woodland’s wonders on art and culture at Kew Gardens
- Final days to enjoy bespoke musical compositions from the Royal College of Music in Sounds of Blossom
- Be sure to catch the last of magnolia and blossom and keep an eye out for the first signs of bluebells across Wakehurst and Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens
Supertato | 5 April to 21 April 2025 | Included with entry to Gardens
Easter holiday plans are sorted with this spud-tastic family day out at Kew Gardens with Supertato and his heroic veggie friends! Based on the bestselling books by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet, this fun-filled event brings Supertato’s Super Squad to life, where kids can come together to thwart the Evil Pea and save veggies in distress.
From discovering how fruits and veggies grow to exploring their shapes and colours, kids will enjoy hands-on activities while tackling fun challenges. A dressing-up zone offers the perfect photo-opportunity for family snaps, and kids are encouraged to throw themselves into the Supertato experience by dressing as their favourite vegetable for their visit. With carnival parades, activity-packed sports zones and veggie-themed challenges, this is guaranteed to be a fun day out for all the family.
From 5 to 21 April, Kew members can enjoy exclusive early access to the Gardens from 9am – beating the crowds an hour before the general public.
The Power of Trees | 12 April to 14 September 2025 | Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art | Included with entry to the Gardens
A new exhibition opens in the Shirley Sherwood Gallery this April, celebrating woodland wonders and their impact on art and culture across generations. The Power of Trees will showcase a broad range of works, from the world premiere of 20 delicate botanical illustrations from The Bedgebury Pinetum Florilegium Society to an epic cinematic installation from Finnish visual artist Eija-Liisa Ahtila.
In Horizontal – Vaakasuora, Ahtila portrays a 30-metre spruce from Finland across six vertical scenes, complete with a natural soundscape to create an immersive, living portrait. Ahtila’s preparatory works for the installation, entitiled Anthropomorphic Exercises in Film will premiere in the UK alongside the cinematic masterpiece. Forming a vibrant celebration of trees and their artistic resonance, the exhibition shines new light on the power of art in connecting people more deeply with the natural world.
LAST CHANCE: Sounds of Blossom | 15 March to 6 April | 11am to 6pm | Included with entry to Gardens
Sounds of Blossom in collaboration with the Royal College of Music (RCM) continues for its final week at Kew Gardens in a multi-sensory celebration of Spring. Original compositions from talented RCM students gently play amidst Kew’s blossom hotspots, complementing the enchanting hues and sweet fragrance of Spring blooms. Carving out peaceful corners to reconnect with nature, Sounds of Blossom offers the perfect way to lift the spirits in the world-famous gardens.
LAST CHANCE: Beyond the Gardens: Collecting and Curating at Kew | Until 23 April 2025 | Marianne North Gallery | Included with entry to Gardens
For one final month, visitors can gain unique insight into Kew’s often-unseen collections. Exploring Kew’s past and present practices, Beyond the Gardens reveals the methods and objects behind the vital research, conservation and education initiatives that tackle some of the most critical challenges facing humanity.
The Nash Sessions: Asaka Quartet | Thursday 24 April 2025 | 6.30pm to 9pm (performance begins at 7.30pm) | Nash Conservatory, entry via Elizabeth Gate | Member £30, Child member £10, Non-member £40, Child non-member £10 | Includes entry to the Gardens
Enjoy an enchanting candlelit concert in the Nash Conservatory at Kew Gardens. Bringing together musicians from China, Hong Kong and Scotland, the Asaka Quartet is a prize-winning string quartet formed in 2021 at the Royal Academy of Music. With a keen interest in music by underrepresented composers, the Asaka Quartet bring a fresh and exciting repertoire to the Nash Conservatory for a magical Spring evening performance.
Horticultural Highlights – Spring
Catch the pastel pinks of magnolias and cherry blossom before their seasons ends across Magnolia Glade, through Cherry Walk and Asano Avenue. Daffodils shine the last of their bright yellow hues across the Great Broad Walk Borders and throughout the Natural Area, whilst bluebells start to emerge with their delicate flowers.
Short courses
Why not sign up for a short course at Kew? Led by a selection of experts, these one-day courses offer unique opportunities to develop fresh skills within the stunning surroundings of Kew’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Introduction to Bamboo: A One-Day Exploration | 2 April 2025 | 10.30am to 4pm | Cambridge Cottage | Member £70, non-member £80
For those looking to start their bamboo-growing journey, this one-day course offers a detailed introduction to the plant’s taxonomy, cultivation and tips for maintenance. Join expert Ray Townsend and be inspired by his incredible expeditions as he reveals the wonders of this versatile plant.
Organic Gardening | 8 April 2025 | 10.30am to 4pm | Nash Conservatory | Member £70, non-member £80
Award-winning tutor and writer Christine Lavelle shares her hints and tips on creating an environmentally friendly garden. From composting and fertilisers to companion planting and disease-resistant cultivars of fruit and veg, this course will equip any green-fingered enthusiast with the good practice required to create a thriving natural space.
Kew Publishing Book of the Month | Gardening with Scented Plants by Tony Hall
The perfect book for new and experienced gardeners looking to bring a broad range of colour and fragrance to their gardens. This essential guide from Kew expert Tony Hall will introduce readers to over 200 plant species and cultivars that dazzle with delightful colour and beautiful scents.
Wakehurst
Horticultural Highlights
Throughout April, the Water Gardens bloom into a spectrum of vibrant hues, most notably from an outstanding rhododendron collection throughout the landscape. The Iris Dell becomes an unmissable spectacle, with a bright pink 'Hatsugari’ creating the perfect photo backdrop. Harder to spot are Snake’s head fritillaries (Fritillaria meleagris), with their delicate checkerboard pattern, lining the banks of the Water Garden and around the Millennium Seed Bank. Later in the month, visitors venturing into the Bethlehem or Horsebridge Woods will be greeted by a dazzling carpet of bluebells, offering a striking balance to the shimmering silver of the National Birch (Betula) Collection.
The Twits | 4 to 22 April 2025 | 10am to 3.30pm | Activity sheet and badge £4
Outwit The Twits at Wakehurst this Easter, as this iconic story is brought to life with an activity trail through our stunning springtime landscapes. Families will take on Mr and Mrs Twit’s nasty tricks and rotten behaviour through a series of puzzles and challenges, tackling them with passion and care for the natural world. A Nature Heroes badge will be up for grabs for children who complete the trail, to take home as a keepsake of the day’s victory over the terrible Twits.
Get a head start on the trail – Wakehurst and Kew members can book from 9am over the Easter weekend with early member openings between 18 and 21 April inclusive.
Spring into Community | 24 – 25 April, 3 May | Free
A three-day festival of free workshops and activities aimed at charities and community groups. The programme connects participants with the wonder of Kew Science and Wakehurst's botanical collections, through art, music and creativity. In celebration of the Millennium Seed Bank's 25th anniversary, participants can take part in BSL tours of the Millennium Seed Bank Atrium, seed banking activities and seed-inspired storytelling.
Trees for Bees | Free with entry to the gardens
Scientists at Wakehurst are undertaking a pioneering project to discover which trees prove most popular with our buzzing pollinators. With this vital data, they can help boost populations of critical bees, wasps and more across the country, particularly in urban areas. And now, visitors have a chance to be part of it. Grab a free guide, download the app and follow our trail to help our scientists understand our bee population. Community groups can also sign up to an Engagement Session to hear from our scientists and enjoy a guided tour.
Dawn chorus walk | 24 April | 6am to 8am | Member £30, non-member £35
Be rewarded for a bright and early start with the melodic calls of woodland and garden birds at Wakehurst. Local ecologist and naturalist Tom Forward leads a guided walk through the gardens to enjoy nature’s finest concert – the dawn chorus.
Birdsong walk | 24 April | 10.30am to 12.30pm | Member £30, non-member £40
Join bird expert and ecologist Tom Forward and discover the art of recognising bird song. Take time out from the stresses of daily life, and connect with the natural world, tuning into the calls of our feathered friends. From territorial exchanges to predatory cries, Forward reveals a whole new language in the skies above.
Parkrun at Wakehurst | Every Saturday from 9am | Free
Pace yourself through our scenic landscape as Parkrun is now at Wakehurst. Every Saturday morning, embark on a fun, free and friendly 5K. Participants must register with Parkrun before their first event.
Guided tours | Tues to Thurs, 11.30am and 2pm | Fri – Mon, 11.30am | Free, subject to availability
Whether it’s your first time visiting or you're a regular to the gardens wanting to learn more, join a volunteer-led tour to discover seasonal areas of interest, learn about the history of the landscape and discover behind-the-scenes stories of the gardens.
Dog walks at Wakehurst | Daily | Dedicated dog walking route
Enjoy Wakehurst’s wintery woodlands and captivating views with your four-legged friend in tow. Wakehurst’s dedicated dog walking route takes you through woodlands of the world, offering a dog walk with a difference. Excitable pups can burn off energy in the secure off-lead area and enjoy some downtime in Wakehurst’s dog-friendly cafes.
Exhibitions
Surviving or Thriving: An exhibition on plants and us | Daily, 10am – 3.30pm | Millennium Seed Bank | Included with entry
This exhibition brings Kew’s State of the World’s Plants reports to life, telling the story of why some plants are only surviving, while others are thriving. Through film, audio, models, and a futuristic garden, explore the challenges that plants face and discover the vital role of fungi.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is a world-famous scientific and horticultural institution and conservation charity, whose mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the wellbeing of people and the future of all life on Earth. It is internationally respected for its outstanding collections, horticultural and scientific expertise in plant and fungal diversity, conservation and sustainable development in the UK and around the globe.
Kew Gardens, with its 132 hectares of historic, landscaped gardens, is also a major attraction for international and London visitors alike. Dating back to 1759, the site has a rich history and was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2003. Combined visitor numbers with Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, total over 2.5 million per year. Wakehurst is home to the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest wild plant seed bank in the world and a safeguard against the disastrous effects of climate change and biodiversity loss.
RBG Kew receives approximately one third of its funding from the UK Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils, with the remaining two thirds coming from supporters, sponsors, memberships and commercial activity including ticket sales. This enables RBG Kew to carry out its vital scientific and educational work.
For tickets and membership options, please visit our website. Since implementing a new accessibility scheme for those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Legacy Benefits, Kew has welcomed over 100,000 visitors with £1 tickets across both UK sites.
About Wakehurst
Whilst Wakehurst is not a National Trust property, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew has a longstanding relationship with the National Trust dating back to 1965 when Kew took over the running of Wakehurst’s 535 acres of botanical landscapes and Elizabethan Mansion, bequeathed to the National Trust in 1963.
Wakehurst is Kew’s wild botanic garden in the Sussex High Weald National Landscape. Its ancient and beautiful landscapes span 535 acres and are a place for escape, exploration, tranquility, 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 over 100,000 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.
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In March 2021, RBG Kew launched its 10-year strategy Our Manifesto for Change 2021. The institution’s ultimate goal is step up to help to end the extinction crisis and contribute to creating a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. In the wake of a global pandemic, and with the future of the planet in peril, the strategy represents a public commitment by RBG Kew to do everything in its power to reverse the environmental devastation of biodiversity loss and climate change. The five key priorities are 1) Delivering science-based knowledge and solutions to protect biodiversity and use natural resources sustainably 2) Inspiring people to protect the natural world 3) Training the next generation of experts: 4) Extending our reach 5) Influencing national and international opinion and policy.
On May 25 2021 RBG Kew launched its new Sustainability Strategy – committing to become Climate Positive by 2030 and marking a step-change in our urgent action to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis.