Kew Wakehurst wins at South & South East in Bloom Awards after first-ever entry
Kew Wakehurst has been named Best Heritage Park or Garden at the South & South East in Bloom awards, held at RHS Garden Wisley, after entering the competition for the first time. The awards recognise the impact of green spaces in local communities, with the Heritage Parks & Gardens category celebrating remarkable spaces and the dedicated individuals who care for them.
Staff at Wakehurst are delighted to be named category winner, following the hottest summer on record, as Wakehurst’s collection of rare and threatened plants fought against high temperatures and drought. Across the landscape, the team are curating climate-resilient landscapes such as an American Prairie, and drought-resilient area in the Children’s & Community Garden demonstrating the importance of purposeful planting, transforming Wakehurst to a living laboratory.
Iain Parkinson, Head of Landscape & Horticulture, commented: “We’re incredibly proud that Kew Wakehurst has been awarded this accolade, recognising the horticultural excellence we strive to achieve as well as the passion and expertise of those who care for our landscapes. This award comes at a particularly exciting and transitional time for Wakehurst, as we develop new climate-resilient landscapes that respond to the challenges of a changing world while continuing to inspire and engage our visitors.
Horticulture, science and nature connection are deeply intertwined across the landscape, and we’re delighted to see that this approach resonates so strongly with visitors from across the region. We look forward to welcoming new and returning visitors over the coming seasons, to discover how beauty has a purpose here at Wakehurst.”
This year, the gardens have also become a living gallery, showcasing striking sculptures for the Henry Moore and more exhibition. Four of Moore’s iconic sculptures are continually recontextualised as the landscape moves through the seasons, alongside three pieces by contemporary artists. As the seasons change, visitors can continue to experience horticultural excellence at Wakehurst, with autumn colour sweeping across the woodlands. The Winter Garden begins to take centre stage for the colder months, as dramatic silver birch contrasts against bold dogwood and swathes of winter evergreens, in a carefully designed sensory tapestry.
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