Saturday 11th May

On the afternoon of Saturday 11^th May, we’ll be heading to Wakehurst Place, home to a beautiful mansion originally built in the 16^th century that together with over 500 acres of woodlands, wetlands and meadows is managed by Kew Gardens. It is also the site of the Millenium Seed Bank, an astonishing conservation project which currently contains 2.4 billion seeds. The Wakehurst estate was purchased by keen plantsman and collector Gerald Loder in 1902, son to Sir Robert, who owned High Beeches and brother to Edmund who went on to purchase Leonardslee – all now historically important gardens within fifteen miles of each other.

Wakehurst Place is home to many fine maples, with most of the species planted throughout the woodland areas but I have to say that my favourite part of the garden is from the lake in front of the mansion down to the water gardens. This area is home to some of the oldest Acer palmatum cultivars, with many wonderful old members of the Dissectum Group providing a grounding for the new plantings of maples that have been carried out along the stream and new boardwalk.