Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden, has announced a new partnership with the Clean Planet Foundation to expand its education offer. This partnership will see the installation of a new outdoor classroom, the Clean Planet Tent, which will accommodate an additional 1,000 students per year.
In 2024, Wakehurst welcomed over 12,000 school children to its gardens. With the addition of the Clean Planet Tent, the gardens will be able to host one additional class per day, allowing for a total of approximately 13,000 students to experience its educational sessions each year.
The Clean Planet Tent will enhance the current outdoor learning offer at Wakehurst, where school groups are inspired by sessions on plant biology, wildlife, seed science, and more. This purpose-built outdoor space will provide a natural environment for students to learn and be inspired by the spectacular surroundings. The partnership with the Clean Planet Foundation aligns with Wakehurst’s values and mission in combatting climate change.
Julie Whelan, Learning Manager at Wakehurst, commented, “We’re thrilled to embark on this partnership with Clean Planet Foundation. This new learning space means we can welcome even more school children to the gardens for informative and engaging sessions, inspiring minds of all ages.”
Wakehurst works with schools, colleges, and universities from across the Southeast and beyond, offering curriculum-linked education sessions that meet individual requirements and pupils’ needs. The dedicated team of teachers uses the gardens as a living laboratory to bring science to life and educate the next generation.
Bertie Stephens, CEO of the Clean Planet Foundation, added, “We’re incredibly proud to partner with Wakehurst to bring the Clean Planet Tent to life. This new space will allow more young people to learn about science and sustainability surrounded by nature – the best classroom of all. At the Clean Planet Foundation, we believe real change starts with education, and this partnership with Wakehurst is a powerful step in preparing the next generation to protect our planet.”
The Clean Planet Foundation is a UK-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to tackling plastic pollution, advancing climate education, and empowering communities through science, storytelling, and action. Their various projects, such as the HAPSIE comic series and the Seed Collection Project, aim to connect people with nature and drive systemic change from the ground up.
For more information, images, and interviews, please contact the Wakehurst PR team at WakehurstPR@Kew.org. To arrange a school visit or Nature Connectedness teacher training, please contact wakehurstschools@kew.org. For more information about the Clean Planet Foundation, visit Cleanplanet.com/foundation.
About Wakehurst:
Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, spans 535 acres and is a place for escape, exploration, tranquility, and wonder. Its diverse collection of plants from Britain and around the globe thrive within a tapestry of innovative gardens, temperate woodlands, meadows, and wetlands. Wakehurst is a centre for UK biodiversity and global conservation, seed research, and ecosystem science. At its heart is Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank, the world’s largest store of seeds from wild plant species.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, receives approximately one third of its funding from the UK Government through the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and research councils. Further funding comes from donors, membership, and commercial activity. The gardens have recently implemented a new accessibility scheme, offering £1 tickets to those in receipt of Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and Legacy Benefits.
As a charity, Kew relies on the support of its visitors to sustain its gardens and protect global plant and fungal biodiversity for the benefit of our planet and humanity.
About Clean Planet Foundation:
The Clean Planet Foundation is a UK-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to tackling plastic pollution, advancing climate education, and empowering communities through science, storytelling, and action. Their various projects, such as the HAPSIE comic series and the Seed Collection Project, aim to connect people with nature and drive systemic change from the ground up.
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