Connecting with Nature at Wakehurst
Learn how to connect to nature in our 535 acres of landscapes
Whether you’re a colour‑chaser, wildlife‑watcher or avid art‑lover, the Wakehurst landscape is yours to discover, and to curate your own connection with nature.
With over 500 acres of woodlands, wetlands and meadows to discover, our landscapes are a place of tranquillity and exploration, with each seasonal highlight offering a new way for you to escape into nature.
And behind the scenes, we’re using science to understand what that connection really means — uncovering how different sights, sounds and textures shape the way we feel and deepen our bond with nature.
The science behind it
We see land differently. For us, landscapes form testbeds for groundbreaking innovation
Five years ago, we launched our ambitious Nature Unlocked research programme, transforming the landscape into a living laboratory with innovative studies that investigate the role of biodiversity in our multi-functional ecosystems. As charity, we’re collaborating with scientists, businesses, educators, policy makers, land managers, communities and our visitors to transform land into a living laboratory to generate data that will change lives.
Through the Nature Connectedness strand of research, we want to know how different habitats and sensory experiences shape our emotional responses to the natural world, and in turn how that deepens our passion to protect nature.
Research so far has included wellbeing walks in different habitats and studies that encourage participants to take photos of what they notice in nature. Stay tuned for further announcements of pioneering research in the gardens.
“We’re really putting our connection with nature under the microscope – exploring how people react to the different colours, textures, sounds and smells in nature, and which best facilitate a deeper connection with the natural world and those positive impacts on our wellbeing. By pairing these scientific insights with Wakehurst’s horticultural beauty, we are beginning to understand how biodiverse landscapes deepen our connection to nature and strengthen our commitment to protecting it for future generations.” Julie Whelan, Nature Connectedness Research Lead
How to connect with nature
Throughout the year, our calendar is packed with workshops, trails and more to help you connect with nature in a way that suits you.
Coming soon: Family Wellbeing Walks
Inspiring education
We’re helping schools develop their own nature connection, and equipping teachers with the skills to lead wellbeing sessions with their students. Many of our school visits include a Nature Connectedness walk, encouraging pupils of all ages to see the natural world from a new perspective and notice the sounds, smells and textures around them.