RHS / Guy Harrop
The Queen Mother's Rose Garden in summer at RHS Garden Rosemoor
The Queen Mother's Rose Garden in summer at RHS Garden Rosemoor
Families will be transported to Alice’s Wonderland at the five Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Gardens this summer, as the world’s leading gardening charity partners with Macmillan Publishers to celebrate 150 years of the iconic and classic stories Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. Reimagined for contemporary audiences by multi-award-winning illustrator Chris Riddell, Wonderland will be brought to life throughout the summer holidays at RHS Garden Bridgewater in Greater Manchester, RHS Garden Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire, RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex, RHS Garden Rosemoor in Devon and RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey.
Inspired by Alice’s spirit of curiosity and a host of quirky characters from Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, during their visit to the five RHS Gardens, families can view the gardens through the eyes of Alice, encountering topsy-turvy installations along the way. Children will be invited to sneak through the rabbit hole, peek through the door in the tree, transform themselves into a Queen (or King) of Hearts.
There’s something for everyone as little ones discover this spellbinding tale for the first time and grown-ups indulge in nostalgic retellings of a story they grew up with. A Mad Hatters Picnic will see families enjoying picnics across all gardens at the height of summer, and a variety of immersive theatre will spark the imagination of young and old, performed with the garden as the backdrop it will inspire all ages to connect with the outdoors. A range of Alice books and merchandise will be available to buy from the Gift Shops at the RHS Gardens.
At Rosemoor, we are delighted to have the wonderful Robert James Ltd sculptures to bring Alice to life with their literary masterpieces in bronze, throughout the garden for visitors to discover. In conjunction with the Plough Arts Centre we are also proud to present their Outdoor Theatre program including BoxTree Productions of Alice In Wonderland on Saturday 24th July to enchant and enthral all. Plus for little ones there are weekly Welly Walks & Bug Hunts throughout the summer holidays.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was first published by Macmillan Publishers in 1865 and Lewis Carroll completed his sequel Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There in 1868, but his determination to have John Tenniel continue as the illustrator for Alice saw a wait of three years before the book arrived in bookshops in December 1871. Celebrating this 150th anniversary and Tenniel’s inspiration, Chris Riddell has brought his own inimitable style and a twenty-first century approach to these classic stories. Macmillan publishes his new, illustrated edition of Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There on 24th June 2021.
Tenniel and Riddell have much in common; both being celebrated political cartoonists of their day, for Punch and the Observer respectively, while also creating some of the most loved and iconic illustrated classics for children. Chris Riddell has often said that Tenniel was one of the reasons he became an illustrator as he loved his illustrations as a child, particularly the White Rabbit. His books have won a number of major prizes, including the prestigious CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal an unprecedented three times, and the Costa Book Award. He was the 2015-2017 Children’s Laureate and was awarded the OBE by the Queen for his services to children’s literature in 2019.
Emma Thompson, Head of Site at RHS Garden Rosemoor said: “We’re thrilled to be bringing the gardens to life with Chris Riddell’s amazing interpretation of Alice in Wonderland. We know this will resonate with members and visitors – especially families – and add a new dimension to their garden visit.”
Alyx Price, Associate Publisher, Macmillan Children’s Books added: “We are delighted to be working with the RHS again and that the team has chosen Chris Riddell’s Alice as the inspiration for their summer theme in this anniversary year. Alice is all about curiosity and discovery, and this can all be explored in a fun and engaging way in the RHS’ beautiful gardens. It will be a wonderful visit for all ages.”