Overview

• The Prince and Princess of Wales toured the museum’s newly transformed gardens, joined a pond-dipping session with Lewisham pupils, and met Manchester students involved in the National Education Nature Park.
• The National Education Nature Park, led by the museum with the Royal Horticultural Society and commissioned by the Department for Education, reports engagement from more than 7,500 schools, colleges and nurseries.
• Opened in 2024, the gardens operate as a living laboratory with grassland, wetland and woodland habitats, using sensor networks and environmental DNA to track urban biodiversity.
• A sudden downpour paused outdoor activities, and the Princess sheltered children with her umbrella before leading the group indoors.
• Kensington Palace said renovations at Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park are underway and the Wales family will move later this year, as Kate’s noticeably lighter hair drew widespread attention during the outing.