{"id":66210,"date":"2026-08-13T10:51:45","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T09:51:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/?p=66210"},"modified":"2026-08-13T10:54:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T09:54:29","slug":"join-an-autumnal-fungi-adventure-with-wallace-gromit-at-kew-wakehurst-this-october-half-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/2026\/08\/13\/join-an-autumnal-fungi-adventure-with-wallace-gromit-at-kew-wakehurst-this-october-half-term\/","title":{"rendered":"Join an autumnal fungi adventure with Wallace &#038; Gromit at Kew Wakehurst this October half-term"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"66210\" class=\"elementor elementor-66210\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fc6e43 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2fc6e43\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f57c1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6f57c1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><strong>Wallace &amp; Gromit: Fantastic Fungi Trail,\u00a017 October to 1 November<\/strong><\/h4><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><strong>Tickets available online soon via\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press\/1\/0102019ff5c3125d-f4a881d7-8ea8-4e01-b6be-8d059c95e3a3-000000\/jyxKuXpqgxUDVYuSx0t_CScPvo0=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">kew.org\/wakehurst<\/a><\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><ul><li><strong>Children can discover the weird and wonderful world of fungi<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Activities backed by pioneering scientific research at Wakehurst\u00a0<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Trail takes place during Aardman\u2019s 50th anniversary year\u00a0<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Adventure Cinema screenings of spooky favourites from 2 to 4 October\u00a0<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This autumn,\u00a0Kew Wakehurst invites families to join a Fantastic Fungi Trail, inspired by the adventures of\u00a0Wallace &amp; Gromit\u00a0and the\u00a0villainous penguin\u00a0Feathers McGraw.\u00a0Children are tasked with\u00a0foiling McGraw\u2019s most recent plot, uncovering the\u00a0&#8216;tricks and\u00a0treats\u2019\u00a0of\u00a0fungi\u00a0found across the Sussex landscape.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Coinciding with celebrations for Aardman\u2019s 50<\/span><sup><span data-contrast=\"none\">th<\/span><\/sup>\u00a0anniversary, the trail\u00a0invites families to jump into the\u00a0cracking\u00a0claymation\u00a0world, as the much-loved\u00a0characters bring science to life.\u00a0Joining Wallace &amp; Gromit as budding field assistants, children\u00a0will\u00a0take a closer look at the world beneath our feet, where the\u00a0<span data-contrast=\"none\">many shapes of\u00a0fungi hint at an expansive ecological network below<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">.\u00a0From\u00a0surprising scents to incredible inks, children\u00a0will learn about the different \u2018tricks and treats\u2019 that fungi bring, completing\u00a0their mycological mission\u00a0and\u00a0keeping\u00a0vital scientific records safe from Feathers McGraw. As the landscape sinks towards dusk, the trail will bring\u00a0a playful\u00a0autumnal\u00a0experience, open for later afternoon sessions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The\u00a0Wallace &amp; Gromit\u00a0trail at Wakehurst promises\u00a0an affordable and accessible day out for all, with buggy-friendly paths and a\u00a0dog-friendly route.\u00a0Uniting the generations across 50 years of creative storytelling, the trail\u00a0will\u00a0bring families together to forge autumnal memories, whilst deepening a\u00a0connection and understanding of the natural world.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Eva Owen,\u00a0Public Engagement Manager\u00a0at Wakehurst, said:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em>&#8220;We&#8217;re uniquely placed at Kew Wakehurst to offer families experiences that are directly inspired by scientific research that takes place\u00a0onsite\u00a0and we&#8217;re\u00a0excited to offer a slightly different Halloween experience\u00a0this October.\u00a0The\u00a0Fantastic\u00a0Fungi\u00a0Trail\u00a0promises to\u00a0transform the season\u2019s fear into\u00a0awe\u00a0and wonder\u00a0of the natural world,\u00a0growing\u00a0children\u2019s curiosity\u00a0and equipping them with\u00a0fungi facts to\u00a0better understand the habitats around us. Whether you&#8217;ve been coming to Wakehurst for\u00a0years or\u00a0are looking for something different this October half-term, we can&#8217;t wait to welcome you.&#8221;\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Molly Van Den Brink, Senior Attractions &amp; Live Experiences Manager at Aardman, said:<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><em>\u201cWe are delighted to be working with the Kew Wakehurst team to develop such a unique, alternative Halloween experience, where families will have the chance to explore and learn about the incredible natural world around them, and all the tricks and treats that these fantastic fungi found at Wakehurst have to offer. Wallace &amp; Gromit are perfectly placed to lead visitors on this journey of scientific discovery and engage them with Wallace\u2019s latest contraption, before\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0too late and their plans are foiled by a familiar, feathery foe&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Fantastic\u00a0Fungi<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0cm; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span class=\"normaltextrun\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;\">From the slimy to the stinky, fungi come in all shapes and sizes, and family will learn about just a<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">\u00a0few of the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">alien-like<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">\u00a0creations spotted on the woodland floor. This includes\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">the wonderfully weird <\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;\">Devil&#8217;s fingers<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"normaltextrun\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;\">, with its eye-catching red tentacles,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">as well as the <\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;\">Shaggy Inkcap<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"normaltextrun\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;\">, which changes\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text; border-bottom: transparent; background-position-x: 0px; background-position-y: 100%;\">form<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">\u00a0throughout its life cycle. The iconic<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">, fairy-tale<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;\">Fly Agaric<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"normaltextrun\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;\"> will also play a role in the trail,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">as well as yellow Sulphur tuft, growing in dense clusters throughout autumn.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"normaltextrun\"><span style=\"font-size: 14.0pt; font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"normaltextrun\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\">The trail is\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\">backed by scientific research<\/span><\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\">\u00a0at Wakehurst into the role of fungi in<\/span><b><\/b><\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\">\u00a0storing carbon in the soil<\/span><\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\">. Recent research by Kew scientists revealed that\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\">the type of fungi living on tree roots\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\">(<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">rather than the overall amount of fungi present) may be the answer to why some woodland soils store more carbon than others. The study\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">identified<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">\u00a0that fungi particularly found in\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\">broadleaf woodlands<\/span><\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\">\u00a0helps to move carbon from trees into the soil, and that fungi producing more fine threads, (<\/span><i><\/i><\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\">hyphae<\/span><\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\">), were linked with higher levels of soil carbon<\/span><span style=\"user-select: text;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p class=\"paragraph\" style=\"margin: 0cm; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span style=\"user-select: text;\"><span class=\"normaltextrun\"><b><span style=\"font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;\">Autumnal Awe<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><p>Families will follow a route that takes in vibrant autumn\u00a0colours,\u00a0as the National Birch Collection in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-at-wakehurst%2Fbethlehem-wood%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press\/1\/0102019ff5c3125d-f4a881d7-8ea8-4e01-b6be-8d059c95e3a3-000000\/RdJhlw4Bt6SHWlAUcRtKWp-xnJc=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Bethlehem Wood<\/span><\/a>\u00a0bursts into life in<span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0a tapestry of orange and gold<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Once the mission is complete,\u00a0families can continue their adventures into\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-at-wakehurst%2Fpearcelands-wood%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press\/1\/0102019ff5c3125d-f4a881d7-8ea8-4e01-b6be-8d059c95e3a3-000000\/GDpHgmHsBiPGKZe3kZzeigOZfWg=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Pearcelands Wood<\/span><\/a>, where curious minds can continue to discover science in action, spotting high-tech equipment installed to\u00a0monitor\u00a0the wind resilience of trees, through the new &#8216;Wind in the Trees&#8217; research project.\u00a0In the heart of the gardens,\u00a0the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-at-wakehurst%2Fchildrens-and-community-garden%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press\/1\/0102019ff5c3125d-f4a881d7-8ea8-4e01-b6be-8d059c95e3a3-000000\/424vCcj0V4jN1vKhhhfkk3_1G8o=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Children\u2019s &amp; Community Garden<\/span><\/a>\u00a0beckons f<span data-contrast=\"auto\">or<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0messy play in the Mud Kitchen<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, or families can seek shelter from the autumn weather in the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-at-wakehurst%2Fthe-mansion%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press\/1\/0102019ff5c3125d-f4a881d7-8ea8-4e01-b6be-8d059c95e3a3-000000\/F_3dfoWUFWnX6pnfes9xJWUYLy0=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Elizabethan Mansion<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-at-wakehurst%2Fmillennium-seed-bank%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press\/1\/0102019ff5c3125d-f4a881d7-8ea8-4e01-b6be-8d059c95e3a3-000000\/2InhgxwDkyTrSCYYazFeqsxuNEo=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Millennium Seed Bank<\/span><\/a>, an inspiring place to continue growing curiosity, where\u00a0<span data-contrast=\"auto\">a virtual scientist awaits to answer new questions\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">that may have arisen during the trail.\u00a0Autumn colour-spotters can\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">continue their adventures down to\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-at-wakehurst%2Fwestwood-lake%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press\/1\/0102019ff5c3125d-f4a881d7-8ea8-4e01-b6be-8d059c95e3a3-000000\/8G2ZimJ98sSy2DISw4b-boO5_sY=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\"><strong>Westwood Lake<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, where vibrant tones\u00a0reflect off tranquil waters, and there are even more fungi to be found.<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In the lead up to October half-term, Wakehurst is partnering with\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-on%2Foutdoor-cinema-wakehurst%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press\/1\/0102019ff5c3125d-f4a881d7-8ea8-4e01-b6be-8d059c95e3a3-000000\/N_0NQN0oL1ybrvACF_i6oVQQfIg=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\"><strong>Adventure Cinema<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0to host\u00a0<span data-contrast=\"none\">spooky screenings of Halloween favourites<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. From the award-winning\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Wallace &amp; Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0to the wickedly fun<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0Hocus Pocus<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, there is something for all ages to enjoy a spellbinding night under the stars.<\/span><\/p><p>Image: <em>Fungi, Jim Holden \u00a9 RBG Kew <\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wallace &amp; Gromit: Fantastic Fungi Trail,\u00a017 October to 1 November \u00a0 Tickets available online soon via\u00a0kew.org\/wakehurst \u00a0 Children can discover the weird and wonderful world of fungi Activities backed by pioneering scientific research at Wakehurst\u00a0 Trail takes place during Aardman\u2019s 50th anniversary year\u00a0 Adventure Cinema screenings of spooky favourites from 2 to 4 October\u00a0 This [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":66212,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1382],"tags":[],"directory-category":[],"event_categories":[],"class_list":["post-66210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-half-term-fun-events"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-23 11:09:37","action":"change-status","newStatus":"trash","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66210","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66210"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66210\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66216,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66210\/revisions\/66216"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66212"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66210"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66210"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66210"},{"taxonomy":"directory-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/directory-category?post=66210"},{"taxonomy":"event_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event_categories?post=66210"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}