2026 at Wakehurst: Seasonal highlights, new events and community celebrations
Release date: 30 December 2025
- Seasonal highlights include stunning Winter Garden, bold spring blooms and vibrant autumn colour
- Family trails and community events connect visitors with the wonder of nature
- Iconic Henry Moore sculptures, alongside contemporary artworks, on display at Wakehurst
- Brand-new Latehurst series of events opens up the landscape after hours
- Glow Wild returns towards the end of the year
January
As the start of the year brings a fresh start, Wakehurst is the ideal destination to boost moods, inviting visitors of every generation to get exploring in nature. A winter walk around the landscape lifts the mood, as crisp air fills the lungs and nature’s winter displays provide a feast for the senses. The season’s spectacle is undoubtedly the Winter Garden, an ensemble of delicate British Birches, sweet-scented daphne bholua and dramatic red dogwood. All-weather paths weave through the ornamental design, leading visitors to something new around every corner. This winter will be the last chance for families to try out the interactive Bank a Seed exhibit in the Millennium Seed Bank Atrium, giving curious minds the chance to play scientist. Educators are invited to join in person Nature Connectedness wellbeing training in the gardens, enabling teachers to lead their own wellbeing sessions for schools, taking inspiration from the landscape.
Nature Connectedness Wellbeing training at Wakehurst: 30 January and 25 February, bespoke online sessions available
February
Visitors can witness the changing seasons, as winter frost thaws, making way for pastel cyclamen and crocuses dotted across the beds. An exciting new partnership is coming to Wakehurst in 2026 with the world-famous Aardman, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary. Kicking off the collaborations will be a Shaun the Sheep Augmented Reality trail: Fun with the Flock over the February half-term, where families will be tasked with helping Bitzer the dog complete his daily checklist. Combining interactive AR, and on-site ‘hide and sheep’ elements bringing Shaun’s Flock to life, it’s one ewe won’t want to miss. Behind the scenes, Wakehurst’s Education team are equipping teachers with the skills they need to develop a sustainability strategy in their schools, through bespoke Carbon Literacy Training, with new twilight sessions designed to fit around teachers’ schedules.
Carbon Literacy Training: 27 January, 3 and 10 February
Fun with the Flock at Wakehurst: 14 February to 1 March
March
Spring approaches as the gardens burst to life with golden yellow daffodils bordering Mansion Pond, and pastel pink magnolia adorning the Water Gardens. Over the Easter holidays, the Octonauts: Above and Beyond family trail celebrates biodiversity in the natural world, as brave explorers discover the challenges facing plant life and global ecosystems, reflecting the daring crew’s mission of explore, rescue, protect! Budding young Octonauts will join the squad to help protect plants and wildlife, with plenty of puzzles and photo opportunities along the way. Wakehurst will also be introducing Members’ Wine School in March, an exclusive event for Wakehurst and Kew members, offering a relaxed and informative session on wine tasting and pairing. Also launching in March is the Trees for Bees trail, inviting visitors to become citizen scientists by counting the pollinators they see, with all data going straight to scientists
Trees for Bees: Running March to September
Members’ Wine School: 12 March
Octonauts: Above and Beyond at Wakehurst: 28 March to 12 April
April
Wakehurst’s most colourful season begins, as spring blooms in full force throughout the gardens. Woodlands of the world are carpeted with the fleeting beauty of bluebells, with bold rhododendron putting a stunning display across Westwood Valley. Rhododendron ‘Hatsugiri’ is an unmissable sight in the Iris Dell, putting on a bright pink display in late April. The ever-popular Badger watching evenings return for the year, but are sure to sell out quickly, offering a sight of these beautiful and elusive creatures.
Badger Watching: Tuesdays in April – July, Tuesdays and Thursdays in August, Thursdays in September
May
With summer on the horizon, Wakehurst’s meadows reopen to the public, including Coronation Meadow and South Park. Marking one year since Wakehurst’s Elizabethan Mansion reopened to the public after roof restoration, visitors can step inside to discover a place where history and science come together. Whether it’s relaxing in the Library with a book, travelling back in time in the Billiard Room, or looking to the future in the Chapel, with two exhibition spaces that tell the story of Wakehurst's past. Members of the community can celebrate at Wakehurst’s Community Festival, a free two-day event for those who face barriers to visiting, uniting through crafts, music, science, and more. This year’s event promises to open the gardens to many more individuals, with a new Changing Places Toilet, food stalls and puppet shows. On World Biodiversity Day, 22 May, Wakehurst will be celebrating five years since the launch of Nature Unlocked, the landscape ecology programme that sees the gardens transformed into a living laboratory. This year will see the beginning of pioneering new research projects and ground-breaking findings into nature-based solutions against biodiversity loss and climate change. May half-term will bring brand-new activities for families, encouraging them to engage with nature, fostering a passion for the environment.
Wakehurst Community Festival: 8 and 9 May
Twilight Nature tours: 7 and 14 May
June
Sculpture meets the beauty of the natural world as Wakehurst showcases four of Henry Moore's iconic sculptures, organised with the Henry Moore Foundation. The 'Henry Moore and more' exhibition will invite visitors to explore the evolving conversation between art and nature with contemporary artworks curated in partnership with the Henry Moore Institute. With evenings getting longer, outdoor cinema lovers of all ages can enjoy six open-air screenings over three days. There are also new workshops on offer, as a Summer evening meadow walk is the ideal way to soak up the evening and take in stunning wildflower landscapes. The Iris Dell sparkles in June, with Japanese water iris (Iris ensata cultivars) putting a bold display in a spectrum of colour.
Henry Moore and More: opens 5 June included with entry, free for members
Summer evening meadow walk: 17 and 24 June, 1 and 8 July
Outdoor Cinema screenings: 12, 13 and 14 June
July
As the school holidays begin, Wakehurst beckons as the ultimate family day out, with a themed Nature Heroes activity for little adventurers to complete. Children can also enjoy messy play in the Children’s & Community Garden, and marvel at the colourful display of wildflowers. With the meadows in peak season, visitors can immerse themselves even further through wildflower-inspired workshops, such as Create a Meadow sessions. Later in the evenings, Bat walks offer an exclusive after-dark experience, guided by a wildlife expert. Wakehurst also launches Latehurst, a sunset series celebrating the long summer evenings every Thursday, Friday and Saturday with live music, food and more.
Create a Meadow workshop: 4 July
Bat walks: 24 and 31 July, 13 and 27 August, 3 and 10 September
Latehurst: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in July
August
August is the American Prairie’s moment to shine, as this remarkable landscape once again transforms into a diverse show of over 80 individual species, many grown from seed at the Millennium Seed Bank. The American Prairie’s sixth year promises the return of spiky rattlesnake master (Rattlesnake master) and a variety of Echinacea. The Walled Garden, nestled behind the Elizabethan Mansion, is also a summer showstopper, with towering purple plants and lush greenery providing an exquisite and intimate space. Those seeking some solace from the sun can head into Westwood Valley and Horsebridge Wood, where dappled shade across the pathways provides much-needed respite on sunnier days. At the end of the month, members of Wakehurst’s Community Access Scheme (CAS) come together to celebrate at the CAS Summer Party, uniting organisations supporting individuals who face barriers to visiting, through music, crafts and horticulture.
September
The American Prairie puts on one final display of delicate purple smooth aster, as the remainder of the landscape’s flowers drop their petals leaving an array of sculptural seed heads. The first sign of autumn approaches towards the end of the month, with bronze maples around Mansion Pond and the Water Gardens beginning to turn. With the start of the new school year, Wakehurst’s Education team invite schools and uniformed groups to discover how Wakehurst is the ideal outdoor classroom, combining curriculum-based activities with the changing seasons in an inspiring landscape.
October
During October, Wakehurst’s woodlands sing with autumn colour, from yellow birches in Bethlehem Wood to delicate maples around Mansion Pond. For those wanting to adventure even further, Westwood Lake rewards wanderers with autumn in widescreen, as bold colours reflect off the waters. Along the forest floors, wild and wonderful fungi begin to pop up, offering an insight into the world beneath our feet. During the October half‑term, families can set off on a brand‑new adventure trail set in a stunning autumn backdrop, as little explorers solve puzzles and gain a new Nature Heroes badge.
November
Visitors can catch the last of autumn’s vibrancy, with this time of year ideal for exploring Wakehurst’s dedicated dog walking route. Four-legged visitors and their humans can discover Wakehurst’s woodlands in a tapestry of red and gold, with plenty of sticks to choose from. At the end of the month, Wakehurst’s magical winter light trail Glow Wild returns for its thirteenth year, with a captivating new theme of Nature’s Gifts. Alongside the iconic giant living Christmas tree will be brand-new bespoke installations bringing light and colour to winter evenings. Those looking to add some flourish to their homes can join the last Christmas wreath making workshops of the year, taking home a traditional wreath made from foliage from the Wakehurst landscape
Glow Wild 2026: 26 November to 2 January
Christmas wreath making: 27 to 29 November, 3 to 6 December
December
As the year comes to a close, Wakehurst and Kew members can celebrate at the annual Members’ Winter Warmer evening, a festive event inviting members to indulge in Christmas shopping, whilst enjoying a hot beverage and warming up to some Christmas carols. With Wakehurst open over Boxing Day and over the festive period, it’s the ideal location for the families to come together, uniting the generations for a crisp winter walk.
ENDS
Download high-res imagery here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18mgv8972aollfX1_G75CO55JMLjjscMw?usp=sharing
Image credits: Visual Air / Jim Holden / Ollie Dixon
For more information and interview requests, contact wakehurstpr@kew.org.
Notes to Editors
Garden Entry
Kew and Wakehurst Members: Free, Adult: £18.50, Young person (17-25 years): £9.25, Children (0-16 years): Free, National Trust members: Free (parking charge applies)
Reduced ticket for entry after 3.30pm
£1 ticket for recipients of Universal or Pension Credit
Prices vary for commercial events and family trails
January – February: 10am to 4.30pm (last entry 4pm)
March – October: 10am to 6pm (last entry 5.30pm)
November – December: 10am to 4.30pm (last entry 4pm, early closure on Glow Wild dates)
For full opening times, visit: https://www.kew.org/wakehurst/visit-wakehurst/opening-and-closing-times
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.