Gruffalo’s Child Interactive Trail Opens at Kew Gardens and Wakehurst in Sussex

Autumnal landscapes and wildlife set the scene.

September 10, 2021

“The Gruffalo’s Child” Trail, running this fall, plots a journey through Kew Gardens and at Kew’s wild botanic garden, Wakehurst, in Sussex.

Visitors will encounter characters from author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler’s book, including Fox, Owl, Snake, The Gruffalo, the Gruffalo’s Child and the Big Bad Mouse.

At Kew Gardens, explorers of all ages are invited to enjoy a trail across the Gardens, beginning at Brentford Gate, snaking through Kew’s Rhododendron Dell and concluding at the Children’s Garden.

Throughout their journey, visitors will collect clues to cultivate their curiosity in their search for The Gruffalo’s Child and other characters. As part of their adventure, young visitors will get the chance to play and explore in Kew Gardens’ natural landscapes – home to 14,000 trees – and will become immersed in the world of “The Gruffalo’s Child,” brought to life with planting which replicates the snow-covered landscape of the book.

“We are delighted to be welcoming ‘The

Gruffalo’s Child’ to Kew this autumn, allowing intrepid visitors to immerse themselves in the magic of Donaldson and Scheffler’s beloved imaginative world,” says Sandra Botterell, director of marketing and commercial enterprise, Royal Botanic Gardens. “This new adventure for 2021 promises to be one for all of the family to enjoy, particularly against the stunning botanical backdrops of both Kew and Wakehurst in the autumn.”

As well as “The Gruffalo’s Child” Trail, Kew Gardens’ stunning fall landscape features canopies bursting with seasonal colors and visitors can also learn more about seasonal produce in Kew’s Kitchen Garden, home to a harvest of beetroots, carrots and pumpkins, making a visit to Kew at this time of the year a perfect day out for the whole family.

Wakehurst, Kew’s wild botanic garden in Sussex, will also host its own trail, taking in Bethlehem Woods and a Tree Trunk Trek. Admission to “The Gruffalo’s Child” Trail is included with entry to the gardens, which can be pre-booked. Activities at Wakehurst include “Make a Stick Buddy” and a dedicated “Gruffalo’s Child” workshop trail, as well as a Creative Cookery Camp. Both Kew Gardens and Wakehurst will be open early for members on selected dates between Oct. 16-31.

“It is so wonderful to enter a second year of this partnership with Kew,” says Daryl Shute, brand director, Magic Light Pictures. “Their site and ethos make the perfect home for “The Gruffalo’s Child” – a young, curious character who is discovering her environment, adventuring bravely and engaging with nature. Following the year, we know it will be a great activity.”