Shaun the Sheep and Fun with the Flock AR trail brings half-term excitement to Wakehurst

New AR experience at Wakehurst showcases Aardman’s beloved characters
Families will help Bitzer the dog to complete his daily checklist, and meet Shaun’s friends along the way
Beyond the trail, children can indulge in messy play in the Mud Kitchen and enjoy the sensory beauty of the Winter Garden

This February half-term, an exciting Augmented Reality (AR) adventure trail brings Shaun the Sheep, Aardman’s world famous animated children’s character, to Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex. Shaun’s friendly Flock are paying Wakehurst a visit to create the ultimate February half-term day out for the family.

This adventure trail marks the beginning of a creative partnership for Wakehurst with Aardman, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

This immersive experience will see families tasked with helping Bitzer the dog to complete his daily checklist, while meeting Shaun’s friends along the way, such as Shirley, a large ewe who loves pizza and often gets stuck in tight spaces and Timmy, the littlest lamb, who loves teddy bears and playing games.

Combining interactive Augmented Reality (AR), and on-site ‘hide and sheep’ elements, this trail will allow families to soak up the wonder of nature, immersing themselves in the landscape across Wakehurst’s wild surroundings. On completion of the trail, Nature Hero fans will also be able to gain a Fun with the Flock Nature Heroes badge to add to their collection.

Eva Owen, Programme Manager at Wakehurst, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be collaborating with Aardman on this exciting Shaun the Sheep family friendly trail. This is one ewe won’t want to miss. We are bringing the beloved Shaun the Sheep character and his flock of pals to Wakehurst, by creating a vibrant, fun-filled trail, with the bonus of our own sheep adding to the experience.

“Our February, half-term trail, will give families the chance to enjoy walking through our national birch collection in Bethlehem Wood, finishing amongst evergreen pines in Coates Wood, where children can explore the log trail in our Tree Trunk Trek."

It’s not just animated sheep that are playing a role this winter, as families will be able to spot Wakehurst’s visiting Hebridean sheep grazing nearby from the trail path, as the light-footed flock spend their winters helping to manage Wakehurst’s eco-systems, treading seeds into the soil.

As part of the ultimate winter day out, families can indulge in messy play in the Mud Kitchen, immerse themselves in the sensory beauty of the Winter Garden, and discover a variety of viewpoints across the landscape.

ENDS

For more information, images and interviews please contact Jemima Broadbridge, Senior Press Officer: J.Broadbridge@kew.org, or WakehurstPR@Kew.org.

Download press images here

Please visit: What's on at Wakehurst | Kew

Notes to editors

Fun with the Flock at Wakehurst

Saturday 14 February to Sunday 1 March 2026, 10am to 4.30pm daily with last entry at 3.30pm.

Fun with the Flock Nature Heroes badge: Wakehurst/Kew members: £5, non-members: £7.

Wakehurst day entry

Adult: £18.50 non-members, young person (17-25 yrs) £9.25, FREE for Wakehurst and Kew members and children under 16-years-old. Wakehurst tickets and prices | Kew

Trail highlights:

Adventure starts outside Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, the world’s largest store of wild seeds.
Takes in sweeping birch woodland, a forest of towering Wollemi pines, and Bethlehem woods, one of Britain’s finest national collections of Birch trees, featuring some of the most critically endangered species.
Trail paths are accessible and easy to navigate with a buggy, wheelchair or mobility scooter.
Dog-walking is permitted along the trail, provided dogs are kept on a short lead.

About Kew Wakehurst: Kew 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. The National Trust was bequeathed the Mansion and grounds of Wakehurst in 1963. 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.

About Shaun the Sheep app: 'Shaun’s Fun with the Flock AR trail’ app is designed to animate your Wakehurst visit. After downloading the free app, you can follow the trail of markers and explore the many features along the route. Each marker unlocks a 3D-augmented reality scene where you can complete tasks, meet Shaun and friends, and capture photos and videos to share with your family. There will be interactive, in-person activities to complete at each trail station, encouraging participants to engage with their natural surroundings.