{"id":66487,"date":"2026-09-22T09:56:39","date_gmt":"2026-09-22T08:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/?p=66487"},"modified":"2026-09-22T09:59:16","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T08:59:16","slug":"tickets-now-on-sale-for-wallace-gromit-fantastic-fungi-trail-at-kew-wakehurst-for-october-half-term","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/2026\/09\/22\/tickets-now-on-sale-for-wallace-gromit-fantastic-fungi-trail-at-kew-wakehurst-for-october-half-term\/","title":{"rendered":"Tickets now on sale for Wallace &#038; Gromit: Fantastic Fungi Trail at Kew Wakehurst for October half-term"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"66487\" class=\"elementor elementor-66487\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-830c108 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"830c108\" 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-047a655 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"047a655\" 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<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<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Trail takes place during Aardman\u2019s 50<sup><span data-contrast=\"auto\">th<\/span><\/sup><\/strong><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> anniversary year<\/span><\/li><li><strong>Enjoy the ultimate Aardman experience with outdoor screening of Wallace &amp; Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit on 3 Oct<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>This October half-term, Kew Wakehurst invites families to join <span data-contrast=\"none\">the<\/span> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-on%2Fwallace-and-gromit-trail%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press\/2\/010201a0c826a037-93fe2d00-2443-4452-81b3-27324f34ec7f-000000\/L5i99x5Yj2vEMGFuGKkHHwtaybw=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fantastic Fungi Trail<\/a><\/strong>, inspired by the adventures of<span data-contrast=\"none\"> Wallace &amp; Gromit and the villainous penguin, Feathers McGraw<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Children are tasked with helping Wallace and Gromit foil McGraw\u2019s most recent plot, using Wallace\u2019s latest contraption to uncover the &#8216;tricks and treats\u2019 of fungi found 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> anniversary, the trail invites families to jump into the cracking claymation world, as the much-loved characters bring science to life. Joining Wallace and Gromit as budding field assistants, children will take a closer look at the world beneath our feet, where the <span data-contrast=\"none\">many shapes of fungi hint at an expansive ecological network below<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. At each trail stop, children will learn about the different \u2018tricks and treats\u2019 that fungi bring, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">solving interactive puzzles with a cypher wheel and UV torch<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, whilst encountering <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">oversized 3D fungi installations and helping Wallace and Gromit to keep the fungi records safe<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. As the landscape sinks towards dusk, the trail will bring <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">a playful autumnal experience<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, open for later afternoon sessions.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Wallace &amp; Gromit trail at Wakehurst promises an affordable and accessible day out for all, with buggy-friendly paths and a dog-friendly route. Uniting generations across 50 years of creative storytelling, the partnership with Aardman will bring families together to forge autumnal memories, whilst deepening a connection and understanding of the natural world.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Eva Owen, Public Engagement Manager at 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 onsite and we&#8217;re excited to offer a slightly different Halloween experience this October. The Fantastic Fungi Trail promises to transform the season\u2019s fear into awe and wonder of the natural world, growing children\u2019s curiosity and equipping them with fungi facts to better understand the habitats around us. Whether you&#8217;ve been coming to Wakehurst for years or are 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 it\u2019s too late and their plans are foiled by a familiar, feathery foe&#8230;&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><strong>Fantastic Fungi<\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">From the slimy to the stinky, fungi come in all shapes and sizes, and families will learn about just a few of the alien-like wonders spotted on the woodland floor. This includes the wonderfully weird Devil&#8217;s fingers, with its eye-catching red tentacles, as well as the Shaggy Inkcap, which changes form throughout its life cycle. The iconic, fairy-tale Fly Agaric will also play a role in the trail, as well as yellow Sulphur tuft, growing in dense clusters throughout autumn.<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"none\">The trail is <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">backed by scientific research<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> at Wakehurst into the role of fungi in<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> storing carbon in the soil<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. Recent research by Kew scientists revealed that <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">the type of fungi living on tree roots <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">(rather than the overall amount of fungi present) may be the answer to why some woodland soils store more carbon than others. The study identified that fungi particularly found in <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">broadleaf woodlands<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> helps to move carbon from trees into the soil, and that fungi producing more fine threads, (<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">hyphae<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">), were linked with higher levels of soil carbon.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\"><strong>Autumnal awe<\/strong><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Families will follow a route that takes in vibrant autumn colours, as the National Birch Collection in <a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fprotect.checkpoint.com%2Fv2%2Fr02%2F___https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-at-wakehurst%2Fbethlehem-wood%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press___.YzJlOmFhcmRtYW5hbmltYXRpb25zMTpjOm9mZmljZTM2NV9lbWFpbHNfYXR0YWNobWVudDo3YmQ4NzQ3Mjg4NzU3MjZjYmY3YmFkNjk0MTFlNzBkZDo3OjRkMGQ6NjA3ZWY5ODM2NzgzOGRhYTRlZmUwMTQyOWExN2EwM2RiMGFhZDI2Yjg4ZDY5MTljOWY1YWNmOTFmNzhiNzMyOTpwOlQ6Rg\/1\/010201a0c826a037-93fe2d00-2443-4452-81b3-27324f34ec7f-000000\/d9MhH2AODORy9-M6KjYD1jHITNY=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Bethlehem Wood<\/span><\/a> bursts into life in<span data-contrast=\"auto\"> a tapestry of orange and gold<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Once the mission is complete, families can continue their adventures into <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fprotect.checkpoint.com%2Fv2%2Fr02%2F___https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-at-wakehurst%2Fpearcelands-wood%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press___.YzJlOmFhcmRtYW5hbmltYXRpb25zMTpjOm9mZmljZTM2NV9lbWFpbHNfYXR0YWNobWVudDo3YmQ4NzQ3Mjg4NzU3MjZjYmY3YmFkNjk0MTFlNzBkZDo3OjlhZDQ6ZTAzZDUwNjNiNTZiNzM1NDMzZDY3YzU4ZjRhOWY2OGU3NjY5MzZkYTU1M2M0YzBmYjcyOWYzMjJiZjM4ZWJiMjpwOlQ6Rg\/1\/010201a0c826a037-93fe2d00-2443-4452-81b3-27324f34ec7f-000000\/OhqT5TnTPJMj_KJxen3jnkR__uI=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 monitor the wind resilience of trees, through the new &#8216;Wind in the Trees&#8217; research project. In the heart of the gardens, the <a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fprotect.checkpoint.com%2Fv2%2Fr02%2F___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___.YzJlOmFhcmRtYW5hbmltYXRpb25zMTpjOm9mZmljZTM2NV9lbWFpbHNfYXR0YWNobWVudDo3YmQ4NzQ3Mjg4NzU3MjZjYmY3YmFkNjk0MTFlNzBkZDo3OmYxMWI6MGVlOTIxYTFiY2U0ZWE2NDUwNWIxZWYwNTIyMjM5NTFlMDAwMmFhMzI5ZTYxZTMwZmQ2YmI3M2YzZWQ1MzdlYjpwOlQ6Rg\/1\/010201a0c826a037-93fe2d00-2443-4452-81b3-27324f34ec7f-000000\/dzXt_JrF_J2Ya4AhaAcj0dUbH8Q=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Children\u2019s &amp; Community Garden<\/span><\/a> beckons for<span data-contrast=\"auto\"> messy play in the Mud Kitchen<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, or families can seek shelter from the autumn weather in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fprotect.checkpoint.com%2Fv2%2Fr02%2F___https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-at-wakehurst%2Fthe-mansion%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press___.YzJlOmFhcmRtYW5hbmltYXRpb25zMTpjOm9mZmljZTM2NV9lbWFpbHNfYXR0YWNobWVudDo3YmQ4NzQ3Mjg4NzU3MjZjYmY3YmFkNjk0MTFlNzBkZDo3OmUzY2U6ZmQxNmJhZjhmNmMzYWE5NGY1ZmNiNzdiNmZiZTlkNjUwZTE0MmVlZDIyZmVjZGVlZGRhZmRhZmUzOTI4ZDRkOTpwOlQ6Rg\/1\/010201a0c826a037-93fe2d00-2443-4452-81b3-27324f34ec7f-000000\/vANR5S6AGHDkVxgLoA6LTDEZh5k=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Elizabethan Mansion<\/span><\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fprotect.checkpoint.com%2Fv2%2Fr02%2F___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___.YzJlOmFhcmRtYW5hbmltYXRpb25zMTpjOm9mZmljZTM2NV9lbWFpbHNfYXR0YWNobWVudDo3YmQ4NzQ3Mjg4NzU3MjZjYmY3YmFkNjk0MTFlNzBkZDo3Ojc5NDc6YTc5NDcyYzc0OTVlYmNiZWRlMWZmZWE3MTE4NDYxMzY4ZWQxM2NmMTQyNjY3MDVkMDZiZjI3MWUzOGViOWMwMjpwOlQ6Rg\/1\/010201a0c826a037-93fe2d00-2443-4452-81b3-27324f34ec7f-000000\/wNG3x96FRXdzklRrJzy5uaxLn9U=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">Millennium Seed Bank<\/span><\/a>, an inspiring place to continue growing curiosity, where <span data-contrast=\"auto\">a virtual scientist awaits to answer new questions <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">that may have arisen during the trail. Autumn colour-spotters can <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">continue their adventures down to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fprotect.checkpoint.com%2Fv2%2Fr02%2F___https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-at-wakehurst%2Fwestwood-lake%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press___.YzJlOmFhcmRtYW5hbmltYXRpb25zMTpjOm9mZmljZTM2NV9lbWFpbHNfYXR0YWNobWVudDo3YmQ4NzQ3Mjg4NzU3MjZjYmY3YmFkNjk0MTFlNzBkZDo3OmIzNzM6MzE4YjE0ZGU0YzA0NjI0NmJmMjExNWU4MzRlODdlYjQ3MWMwZWJiNDhlNTYyMTQwOGZjNzE1NzI5NTlmYTgxMDpwOlQ6Rg\/1\/010201a0c826a037-93fe2d00-2443-4452-81b3-27324f34ec7f-000000\/w3himL143r9LJKa47w_NQLCmPK4=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\"><strong>Westwood Lake<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, where vibrant tones reflect 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 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/74n5c4m7.r.eu-west-1.awstrack.me\/L0\/https:%2F%2Fprotect.checkpoint.com%2Fv2%2Fr02%2F___https:%2F%2Fwww.kew.org%2Fwakehurst%2Fwhats-on%2Foutdoor-cinema-wakehurst%3Futm_source=press%26utm_medium=press%26utm_content=octoberhtpr%26utm_campaign=w-press___.YzJlOmFhcmRtYW5hbmltYXRpb25zMTpjOm9mZmljZTM2NV9lbWFpbHNfYXR0YWNobWVudDo3YmQ4NzQ3Mjg4NzU3MjZjYmY3YmFkNjk0MTFlNzBkZDo3OjNlNDc6OTJiYzg0MjM5MTdlNjFjNjVhM2IzOTc1YTc4OGU1Y2NlYzFjMGEyZWY3OWYxMTkxN2E2NjdjMTUxOGM1Yzg5MDpwOlQ6Rg\/1\/010201a0c826a037-93fe2d00-2443-4452-81b3-27324f34ec7f-000000\/FF_bj20uAjibagY0LYU1C9mGE08=473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\"><strong>Adventure Cinema<\/strong><\/span><\/a> to host <span data-contrast=\"none\">spooky screenings of Halloween favourites<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">. From the award-winning <\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Wallace &amp; Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> to the wickedly fun<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\"> Hocus Pocus<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">, there is something for all ages to enjoy a spellbinding night under the stars.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Image: <em>\u00a0\u00a9&amp;\u2122 Aardman Animations Limited \/ Wallace &amp; Gromit Limited (2026). All Rights Reserved. <\/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>Children can discover the weird and wonderful world of fungi Activities backed by pioneering scientific research at Wakehurst Trail takes place during Aardman\u2019s 50th anniversary year Enjoy the ultimate Aardman experience with outdoor screening of Wallace &amp; Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit on 3 Oct \u00a0 This October half-term, Kew Wakehurst invites families to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":66488,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1168],"tags":[],"directory-category":[],"event_categories":[],"class_list":["post-66487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-childrens-trail"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-09-29 13:06:46","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\/66487","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=66487"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66487\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66492,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66487\/revisions\/66492"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66487"},{"taxonomy":"directory-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/directory-category?post=66487"},{"taxonomy":"event_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thefamilygrapevine.co.uk\/midsussex\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/event_categories?post=66487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}