Gruffalo Adventures comes to Wakehurst: Stroll through the deep dark wood this Easter
This Easter, Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, becomes home to the much-loved characters from Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler’s acclaimed book, The Gruffalo. The event runs all through the Easter holidays from 4-19 April 2020.
Key event facts:
Families are invited to play the role of the ‘little brown mouse’, following a specially curated trail through Wakehurst’s wild woodlands in pursuit of The Gruffalo
Young visitors can don a lab coat and find out what Owl had for supper by dissecting real owl pellets in the Millennium Seed Bank (Price £4, suitable for 5+)
The Gruffalo Crumble Easter Egg Hunt will see children searching for ingredients for a Gruffalo Crumble. Once all the ingredients are found, a reward of Divine Chocolate mini eggs awaits (Price £4, suitable for 3+)
The trail will take visitors through swathes of bluebells covering the woodland floor
A pop-up serving light snacks and refreshments will be available
Kew Gardens, London, will also be hosting its own Gruffalo Easter programme.
Gruffalo Adventures winds its way through Wakehurst’s Bethlehem Wood where visitors will encounter Fox, Owl and Snake. At the beginning of the trail children will transform into the character of the ‘little brown mouse’, with the option of having their faces painted with whiskers.
Picking up a map, they will follow marks and feathers to solve clues and discover the secret world of animals. They’ll learn about different habitats and the marks we leave behind as humans in a woodland ecosystem. Interactive activities at each stop will let children see the world from the perspective of each animal character. Brave explorers might even get the chance to meet the Gruffalo himself in the form of a life-size wooden sculpture.
An exciting Gruffalo Crumble Easter Egg Hunt will have children searching for the ingredients needed to make a Gruffalo crumble, from apples to sugar. Once they have found them all they will be rewarded with Divine Chocolate mini eggs.
Inside the Millennium Seed Bank children can experience what it feels like to be a scientist. They can pop on a lab coat to dissect real owl pellets collected from a local owl sanctuary. These contain all sorts of materials the owl can’t digest, so you can use a microscope to discover what they have been eating.
While searching for the elusive Gruffalo, visitors will get the chance to explore Wakehurst’s extensive woodland while enjoying its unique landscape as it blooms in spring – magnolias will be out in the Water Gardens and swathes of daffodils will be found on the Mansion Lawn.
All the activities except the Easter Egg Hunt and Owl Pellet Dissection in the Millennium Seed Bank are free with entry to the gardens. These are priced at £4 each.
Listings Information:
Gruffalo Adventures at Wakehurst
4 -19 April 2020
This Easter Wakehurst will become home to characters from Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler’s book, The Gruffalo. Children can join an exciting Gruffalo Trail through the woods, solve clues and meet animal sculptures as they go. They can also enjoy an Easter Egg Hunt and take part in Owl Pellet Dissection. These activities are £4 each.
Adults, £14.50. Young Persons, 17 – 25, £7.25. Children go free.