What’s on this February at Wakehurst

• Wakehurst’s Winter Garden becomes the highlight of the season
• Journey into the Jurassic era with the Dino Detective half-term trail
• Tickets on sale in Feb for The Twits Easter trail at Wakehurst

Ticket information
Gardens open: 10am to 4.30pm (last entry 4.00pm) Tickets: Wakehurst and Kew members: Free / Adult £16.50 / Young person: £8.25 / Children 16 & under: Free / National Trust members: Free (parking charges apply) / £1 concession ticket available

Winter sights and senses at Wakehurst
Wakehurst’s Winter Garden transforms into a sensory centrepiece in the winter months, and the perfect place to lift spirits on a cold day. Paths weave through bright red dogwood and swathes of tall grasses, as brightly coloured Cyclamen and snowdrops offer a pop of colour on the ground. Look out for the illuminating white bark of Himalayan Birch (Betula utilis ‘Jacquemontii’), also found in the Asian Heath Garden.
Other sensory spots across the gardens include timeless winter fragrances in the Pinetum, the gentle sound of trickling water throughout the Water Gardens, and a series of viewpoints throughout Westwood Valley, offering breathtaking views across the South Downs and Loder Valley Nature Reserve as leafless branches reveal new vistas. Come back each season to experience winter landscapes transform with spring colour, as bulbs burst into life. In summer, Wakehurst’s many meadows become the star of the season, buzzing with life, and when autumn descends on the gardens, woodlands of the world are painted with golden hues.

Events
Nature Heroes: Dino Detective | 15 – 23 February | All Day | Mission: £4, Member cape: £12.50, non-members: £14.50
Travel back in time for a Jurassic journey around Wakehurst, unearthing secrets of the landscape’s plants and trees. Budding palaeontologists can dust off their tools to get their claws on the next Nature Heroes badge in this prehistoric pursuit of knowledge.

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.

Dog walks at Wakehurst | Every day | Standard entry applies
Brush off the winter cobwebs and bring your four-legged friend out on a dog walk with a difference. Explore woodlands of the world, let energetic pups run free in the secure off-lead area and enjoy dog-friendly treats at the onsite cafes.

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.

Carbon literacy training for schools | 6 and 13 February | 9am to 12.30pm | £150pp / £200 for two from the same school
From 2025, all schools are to have a trained sustainability lead and a sustainability plan in place. With our course, develop the confidence, knowledge and language to guide your school, colleagues and pupils towards a more sustainable future and ensure compliance with DFE sustainability guidance. Wakehurst’s experienced trainers will support educators in understanding the science of climate change and how positive change can be achieved together. This course is developed in association with Manchester Metropolitan University and accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project. Schools with high pupil premium eligibility may qualify for funded places on the course – to check eligibility please email [email protected].

The Twits trail | 4 – 22 April 2025 | On-sale in February | Included with entry, Nature Heroes mission: £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 the most green-fingered guests, to take home as a keepsake of the day’s victory over the terrible Twits.

Community Access Scheme (CAS) Events
The CAS at Wakehurst is an annual group membership for organisations that provide services directly to people who face physical, sensory, psychological, or social barriers to visiting Wakehurst independently. The below events are available exclusively for members of the CAS at Wakehurst.

Sow and Grow: monthly gardening group | Monday 24 February | 10.30am to 1pm
Build confidence in the garden and create friendships in this monthly hands-on gardening workshop.

Nature Natters | Monday 24 February | 11am to 12pm and 1pm to 2pm
Join expert volunteer guides in an inclusive walking group, with Alliance for Better Care’s social prescribers.

Dementia walk | Tuesday 25 February | 11am to 12pm Join a relaxing walk around the gardens, led by volunteers specifically trained by the Alzheimer’s Society.

CASI (Crafting Against Social Isolation) Club | Friday 28 February | 11am to 1pm
Learn about Wakehurst and the Millennium Seed Bank, whilst making friends through a friendly crafting group. All abilities and experience levels are welcome and materials are provided.

Exhibitions
Surviving or Thriving: An exhibition on plants and us | Daily, 10am – 3.30pm | Millennium Seed Bank |
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.

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