Located in Kew, the Wakehurst gardens are home to some of the country’s best collections of plants. Rebuilt in 1987 after the Great Storm, the gardens mimic temperate woodlands worldwide. They are spread across a valley and offer a variety of paths and places to explore. Visitors can also experience the Winter Garden, Walled Garden, and National Collections.
Winter Garden
The Winter Garden at Wakehurst Gardens in West Sussex is a beautiful place to visit. Previously known as Wakehurst Place, the gardens were once home to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The National Trust now owns and manages the parks. You can learn more about the gardens by visiting their website.
The Winter Garden at Wakehurst Gardens was initially designed in 1986, making it one of the first winter gardens in the UK. Originally a specimen-based garden, it was recently redeveloped to incorporate new species. Today, visitors can enjoy the garden’s lush, vibrant plants in a new way.
The Winter Garden was one of the 25 character areas of the garden that required redevelopment. The Gardens’ supervisor, Francis Annette, studied at the London College of Garden Design and came up with a contemporary design that draws inspiration from the South Downs. Its simple yet effective planting scheme creates an impact using a small palette of plants.
Walled Garden
The Walled Garden at Wakehurst Gardens is beautiful for a romantic afternoon walk. The gardens are situated in a former place known as Wakehurst Place, West Sussex, which is now owned by the National Trust and used as a part of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
If you’re a dedicated horticulturist, this place might be your place. It is a botanical masterpiece that will surely take your breath away. Wakehurst’s gardens are home to more than five thousand plant specimens from all over the world. The gardens also feature woodlands and a nature reserve. This place also hosts the Millennium Seed Bank, the largest project to conserve wild seeds worldwide.
There are plenty of pathways in the gardens. There are benches in the woodland areas. The Coates Wood is a collection of endangered tree species from the southern hemisphere.
Coates Wood
Coates Wood at Wakehurst Gardens is an excellent place for families to explore the wonders of nature. It has an adventurous log trail and different natural play spaces. Kids can learn about other plants and animals in the wood, including badgers. They can also explore the garden’s Millennium Seed Bank.
The woodland plateau is home to an internationally significant collection of Nothofagus species. Its mild climate and acidic sandy loam soils provide the ideal conditions for temperate plants worldwide. Throughout the year, the woodland is alive with wildlife. The garden is also home to a Millennium Seed Bank, which helps preserve plants and trees for future generations.
National Collections
The National Collections at Wakehurst Gardens are a wonderful place to visit. Previously, Wakehurst Place was an estate in West Sussex that was used by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Initially owned by the National Trust, the estate is now a museum and home to more than 7,000 species of plants.
There are four national collections at Wakehurst Place, including the Hypericum National Collection, located near the mansion. Hypericum, also known as St. Johns Wort, is a plant family with over 350 species. They are shrubby perennials and annuals that all bear yellow flowers. In addition to the Hypericum National Collection, Wakehurst Place also features the Millennium Seed Bank. The five National Plant Collections at Wakehurst Place include a variety of other plants and flowers.
The estate includes landscape and formal gardens. It contains an extensive plant collection dating from the early twentieth century. Although it receives little public attention, curators are working to change that. Working with new director Ed Ikin, the curators have added collections such as American Prairie and Coronation Meadow, to the grounds.
