Unearth the hidden world ‘under your feet’ at RHS Wisley

From soil-dwelling creatures to complex tree root systems, discover the diverse wonders of the world hidden beneath your feet

29 January – 27 February 2022
10am – 4pm, daily

Join us at RHS Garden Wisley, from 29 January to 27 February 2022, for the chance to dig a little deeper and learn about life beneath the ground at ‘Under your feet’.

Families can follow a fascinating discovery trail all about soil and get up close to some cool creatures with ZooLab on Friday 25 February.

Included with garden admission.
RHS members and children under 5 go free.

Immersive installations

Head to the Glasshouse at RHS Garden Wisley and marvel at a giant replica of an exposed tree root system, accompanied by fascinating facts about how trees get nutrients from the ground, which roots we can eat and how deep the trees at Wisley grow.

In the Glasshouse Gallery, venture through large-scale models of vegetable roots – an experience that will immerse you in the world of soil-dwelling creatures, offering you a closer look at complex root systems and intricate worm labyrinths.

Delve deeper

Uncover the secrets of soil at RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science and learn more about caring for your soil and the benefits of ‘no dig gardening’ from displays in the Garden Room. Watch worms hard at work in our large-scale wormery and discover the vital role they play in good soil health. Get take home ideas for compost bins, including one for your desk!

Fun for all the family

ZooLab minibeast sessions

Friday 25 February
Drop-in sessions at 10.30am, 12 noon, 1.30pm and 3pm
Hilltop Garden Room

Meet mind-boggling creatures with ZooLab in hands-on animal encounter sessions.

More about ZooLab Minibeast Sessions

Under your feet discovery trail

Saturday 12 – Sunday 27 February, daily
10am – 4pm, self-guided trail

Discover the secrets of soil on our family trail around the garden and find out just how important soil is for plants, minibeasts and the planet.

Pick up a trail booklet from the garden entrance or download it below:

Download trail booklet (2.9MB pdf)

Under your feet – Hilltop Live

Throughout February, join us in the atrium of RHS Hilltop for free talks, demonstrations and interactive sessions delving deeper into what lies beneath your feet as part of our Hilltop Live programme.

Nematodes – invisible heroes
Friday 4 February 11.30am & 2pm
Discover why nematodes, microscopic worm-like organisms, are the unsung heroes of our ecosystem.

The secret life of earthworms
Friday 11 February 11.30am & Friday 25 February 2pm
Dr David Jones from the Natural History Museum shares some fascinating facts.

Building a bug hotel
Tuesday 15 February 11.30am & Wednesday 16 February 11.30am
Learn how to build a bug hotel and hear about our community work helping to create healthy and local biodiversity.

‘Under Your Feet’ read-a-long
Tuesday 15 February 2pm
Join the author of children’s book Under Your Feet for a live reading.

Springtails and hidden soil creatures
Friday 18 February 2pm
The ‘spring’ beneath your step – what is living in the soil below?

Slugs – friends and foes under your feet
Friday 25 February 11.30am
Learn more about slugs and RHS scientific research working to understand them.

See more Hilltop Live events

National Lottery Heritage Fund

Under your feet is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Wisley Inspiring People to Grow project. The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded £4 million to RHS Garden wisley towards RHS Hilltop – The Home of Gardening Science and to help fund inspirational activity programmes to further knowledge and skills, and widen engagement.

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.