- Wakehurst welcomed over 14,000 pupils in the 25-26 academic year, marking a 19% yearly increase
- Curriculum-linked sessions are offered from EYFS to KS5
- CPD Training opportunities for teachers and school leaders
Kew Wakehurst in Sussex have announced a record number of school pupils in the 25-26 academic year, with 14,713 students welcomed into the wild botanic garden for inspiring and engaging sessions. This remarkable figure, which includes learners from schools, colleges and universities, marks a 19% increase compared with the previous year, and includes over 30% of visits from high Pupil Premium schools. These figures are now a catalyst for continued growth in the year ahead, as Wakehurst continues to extend its reach to those who may face barriers to accessing green spaces.
Education at Wakehurst extends far beyond the four walls of a classroom, with over 500 acres on offer for engaging sessions. Schools from across the Southeast and beyond can experience activities and lessons inspired directly by the science that takes place at Wakehurst, where the landscape has been transformed into a living laboratory. Whether that’s taking a closer look at the 2.5 billion seeds in the Millennium Seed Bank or experiencing a wellbeing walk backed by Nature Connectedness research, sessions at Wakehurst are not just curriculum-linked, but offer real-world examples of plant and seed conservation, and the impact on people and the planet. Leading the sessions is a passionate army of 15 teachers and 50 volunteers, with some being part of the team for as long as 20 years.
Wakehurst has made significant investment in learning facilities over the past few years, including the installation of new outdoor tents, providing purpose-built spaces for all seasons. In the heart of the Water Gardens, a brand-new dipping pond was created, providing an accessible space for children to take a closer look at wildlife in the water. The curriculum itself is constantly evolving, in line with scientific research and horticultural innovation at Wakehurst, with new seed-science sessions introduced for KS1 and 2 as part of the Millennium Seed Bank’s 25th anniversary last year. A-Level students can now try out a range of fieldwork techniques across the landscape, gathering real-time data on levels of biodiversity, contributing directly to Nature Unlocked, the pioneering research programme at Wakehurst.
Julie Whelan, Learning Manager, commented:
“We’re delighted to see so many schools returning to Wakehurst for outdoor education, alongside many new groups visiting for the first time. As a botanic garden and living laboratory, Wakehurst offers everyone a unique opportunity to connect with nature and explore some of the biggest environmental challenges facing our planet today. We’re proud to offer an exciting and engaging range of sessions that are driven by our own mission to protect plants and fungi, equipping students with practical skills to take back to the classroom and beyond. We hope that every visit sparks a lifelong appreciation of the natural world.”
Paul Hooper-Smith, Learning Volunteer, commented: “This is such an incredible success story! Hearing about the number of students who have visited Wakehurst makes me even more proud of what we are doing. It’s making a real difference.”
Teacher from Three Bridges Primary School, Crawley, shared: “It was a fabulous experience for our children and so well organised. After doing the wellbeing trail, one of our Year 5 boys commented: ‘Wow! Now I really get nature – I used to want to be a chess master when I’m older, but now I want to do something with nature too!’
Head of Biology from Holcombe Grammar School, Kent, commented: “Brilliant visit again and great value for money. The DNA gel electrophoresis practical was excellent, giving students the chance to put into practice the theory that they have learnt in school. We’ve tried to do this practical at school, but results have always been a bit hit and miss, but the gels always work at Wakehurst. The talk at the Millennium Seed Bank was excellent, and the students found this really interesting. The conservation walk gave the students a great chance to see conservation in action and some excellent real-world examples of this process.”
Wakehurst also offers CPD sessions for teachers and school leaders, equipping them with the skills to bring conservation learning into their own classrooms. This includes Nature Connectedness training, empowering teachers to lead their own wellbeing sessions. Throughout the year, the Wakehurst team also provides bespoke training to build confidence in outdoor learning and plant science, through tailored workshops.
Wakehurst are also delighted to be collaborating with STEM Learning and the Royal Society of Biology to deliver the inaugural National Biology Conference on 25 November, a brand-new event that will bring national attention to the importance of nature and science in inspiring the next generation. At the conference, the Wakehurst team will be sharing expertise on how Kew’s pioneering science can be embedded directly into the curriculum, and how to use real-world case studies to bring plant science to life.
