Room on the Broom at Wakehurst

The autumnal tale Room on the Broom, based on the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, arrives at Wakehurst in Sussex this autumn.

Saturday 15 – Sunday 30 October 2022

Included with entry: Adult: £14.95, Members: Free, Young person (17-25 years): £7.50, Children (0-16 years):

Free Sticker hunt activity: £3 per child Tickets will be on sale soon at www.kew.org/wakehurst Wakehurst, Sussex

• A new October half-term adventure for all the family, perfect for Halloween fun
• Based on the much-loved book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, brought to life with interactive activities
• Journey through enchanting woodlands at Wakehurst, surrounded by golden autumn colour
• Early opening for members, and quiet sessions for those with additional needs.
• Developed in partnership with Magic Light Pictures

The trail, developed in partnership with Magic Light Pictures presents a new interactive adventure for the October half-term. Welcoming the Halloween season, the trail will recreate Witch’s windswept adventure through 3D installations and family-friendly activities. There will also be an add-on sticker hunt to accompany the main trail, where participants can build their own “magnificent broom” from the book.

Visitors will begin their journey in the enchanting Bethlehem Wood, where a willow wand-making workshop will set the scene for this magical adventure. At the start of the trail will be a wooden sculpture of a broom with plenty of room, the perfect photo opportunity to capture this memorable day at Wakehurst.

Families can navigate their way through the birch woodland, as they take part in a treasure hunt to find the witch’s lost items amongst the trees. As intrepid explorers reach the end of the journey, they will encounter more surprises inspired by the whimsical tale as they continue into the dramatic landscape of Coates Wood.

At the end of the trail lies the friendly Witch, carved from wood, in a garden of cauldrons. Here, visitors will be able to re-enact the end of the story, collecting natural ingredients to mix up in a cauldron to create their own autumnal spell. This imaginative and playful trail, set within Wakehurst’s 535 acres is the ideal October half-term activity, suitable for children of all ages.

Children will love crunching leaves underfoot as they roam through wild woodlands, spotting wildlife across the biodiverse site. Surrounded by fiery autumn colour, visitors can venture further out into the wild botanic garden
to explore the Water Gardens, meadows, and the majestic Westwood Lake. There will also be the chance to warm up with delicious treats at Stables Kitchen, and stock up on themed gifts in the shop, the perfect seasonal treat. With early opening for members, as well as quiet sessions for those with additional needs and disabilities, this trail is a truly accessible and enjoyable adventure for all.

Lorraine Lecourtois, Head of Public Programmes at Wakehurst said “We’re delighted to be able to welcome visitors to Wakehurst in Sussex for this new interactive trail over the autumn half term. Bringing the tale of Room on the Broom to life will encourage visitors to explore Wakehurst’s woodlands, bursting with vibrant autumn colour. The installations and activities will allow visitors of all ages to encounter nature in a new way, understanding the vital role of plants and fungi.”

This beautiful autumn trail sets the scene for Glow Wild, which this year celebrates the wonderful colour spectrum of the natural world, featuring a brand-new route and 11 spectacular bespoke light installations. A centrepiece of the Glow Wild trail will be the UK’s tallest living Christmas tree, a 37-metre giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron gigantium), adorned with 1,800 energy-saving light bulbs.