Record number of students visit Wakehurst for outdoor learning

A record number of students have taken part in educational visits to Wakehurst in Sussex, with more than 14,700 learners welcomed during the 2025–26 academic year.

The wild botanic garden says 14,713 students from schools, colleges and universities took part in learning sessions, representing a 19% increase on the previous year.

More than 30% of visits came from schools with high levels of Pupil Premium funding, with Wakehurst saying it wants to continue extending its reach to young people who may face barriers to accessing green spaces.

Education sessions take place across Wakehurst’s 500-acre landscape and are inspired by scientific research being carried out at the site.

Activities range from exploring the Millennium Seed Bank, which holds around 2.5 billion seeds, to wellbeing walks informed by Nature Connectedness research.

The sessions are designed to complement the school curriculum while giving students real-world examples of plant and seed conservation and the impact environmental science can have on people and the planet.

The programme is delivered by a team of 15 teachers and 50 volunteers, some of whom have been involved with Wakehurst for as long as 20 years.

Wakehurst has also invested in its learning facilities in recent years, including new outdoor teaching tents and a dipping pond in the Water Gardens, allowing children to study aquatic wildlife.

New seed-science sessions for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils were also introduced as part of the Millennium Seed Bank’s 25th anniversary.

A-Level students can now carry out fieldwork across the landscape and collect real-time biodiversity data, contributing to Wakehurst’s Nature Unlocked research programme.

Julie Whelan, Learning Manager, said: “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.”

Learning volunteer Paul Hooper-Smith added: “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.”

A teacher from Three Bridges Primary School in Crawley said: “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!'”

The Head of Biology at Holcombe Grammar School in Kent said: “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 provides professional development sessions for teachers and school leaders, including Nature Connectedness training and workshops aimed at building confidence in outdoor learning and plant science.

The garden is also working with STEM Learning and the Royal Society of Biology to host the inaugural National Biology Conference on 25 November.

The event will focus on the role of nature and science in inspiring young people, with Wakehurst staff sharing ways Kew’s scientific research can be incorporated into classroom learning.

Get the latest ALERTS for BREAKING NEWS in the SOUTH on your phone by downloading the V2 RADIO APP today! 

V2VOUCHERS.CO.UK is offering half-price deals on a wide range of experiences across the South, from meals out at local restaurants to tickets for some of the region’s biggest events.