As autumn begins to bathe Wakehurst in golden hues there are plenty of events for guests to make the most of the botanical gardens.
Visitors to the site in Haywards Heath will be able to enjoy expansive vistas from Westwood Lake with a warm drink or they can enjoy the beautiful views from Loder Valley viewpoint, which overlooks the 150-acre nature reserve.
While this area remains closed due to vital ash dieback conservation work, the viewpoint provides an opportunity to watch the habitat change through the seasons.
In the heart of the gardens is a golden Chinese swamp cypress and swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum) providing bursts of autumn colour.
For an immersive sensory experience, visitors can lose themselves in the Pinetum, an evergreen glade bursting with winter fragrance. The first signs of winter emerge, with bright cyclamen appearing across the gardens in areas such as the visitor centre and winter garden. Entering its sixth year, the winter garden transforms into a tapestry of colour and texture throughout the chilliest seasons, with November being a prime time to spot the vibrant red of dogwood, and glistening silver of the birches.
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What's on
Glow Wild | Selected evenings: November 28 to January 1 | 4.15pm to 10pm | Flexible ticket options available
Escape to over a mile of light installations, handcrafted by leading artists. Discover Wakehurst’s giant living Christmas tree, majestic flying owl, and fiery hidden dragon, all surrounded by a thousand lanterns, on Sussex’s award-winning trail.
Try delicious street food, toast artisan marshmallows on a real fire and do some Christmas shopping. The trail has a new route, exclusive installations and a Christmas Eve date.
Parkrun at Wakehurst | Every Saturday from 9am | Free
Every Saturday morning, embark on a fun, free and friendly 5K. Participants must register with Parkrun before their first event.
Guided tours | Tuesdays to Thursdays | 11.30am and 2.30pm (subject to availability) | Free
Whether it’s your first time visiting or you are 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.
Workshops forest bathing | November 2 | 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm | £22.50 members, £25 non-members
Based on the Japanese art of Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing allows people to slow down as they are immersed in the forest environment. Workshop leader Helena Skoog will show people how to use all their senses to connect with the surroundings, drawing on nature to relieve tension.
Carbon literacy training for schools | November 20 and 27 | 9am to 12.30pm | £150pp / £200 for two from the same school
Wakehurst’s 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 is accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project.
Christmas wreath making workshop | November 28 and 30 | 10am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 4pm | £45 members, £50 non members
Get into the festive spirit and learn a new skill by creating a traditional Christmas wreath, decorated with seasonal accessories, to make sure your door is the best dressed in town.
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 event dates are available exclusively for members of the CAS at Wakehurst.
Fungi Foraging and Poetry workshop | Friday, November 1| 11am to 1pm
Embrace autumn and wander through Wakehurst in search of fungi and poetry inspiration.
Sow and Grow: monthly gardening group | Monday, November 18 | 10.30am to 1pm
Build confidence in the garden and create friendships in this monthly hands-on gardening workshop.
Nature Natters | Monday, November 25 | 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, November 26 | 11am to 12pm
Join a relaxing walk around the gardens, led by volunteers specifically trained by the Alzheimer’s Society.
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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