BRIGHTON

Superworm Comes To Wakehurst

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s renowned tale Superworm arrives at Wakehurst on Thurs 30 March – Sun 23 April, bringing families together for an Easter treat of interactive activities in a stunning spring landscape.

This brand-new trail follows the inspiring feats of the incredible invertebrate Superworm, whilst exploring different botanical blooms and their superpowers. The springtime adventure will also include a microbe-hunting mission, pre-bookable wormery workshops and daily storytelling in the gardens.

Tasked with helping Superworm find the evil Wizard Lizard’s magic flower, children will embark on an exciting adventure through Wakehurst’s biodiverse landscape with interactive activities and sculptures helping to bring the tale to life. From giant skipping ropes to optical illusions, there will be plenty to keep energetic explorers active over the holidays. The path winds through stunning landscapes, over the six-acre American Prairie and through the dramatic heights of the Pinetum.

Alongside the main trail, there will be an addon microbes mission and bookable wormery workshops, an opportunity for visitors to get stuck in and gain practical skills for protecting worms, learning how to encourage a natural environment for marvellous minibeasts at home.

The add-on Mighty Microbes Mission forms part of Wakehurst’s new family programme, Nature Heroes, where young adventurers can conquer a themed mission each school holiday and half-term, collecting a new badge for their very own superhero cape. Following the February half-term Bird Buddy trail, a second badge is up for collection this Easter. Children can gain a special Superworm badge for their Nature Heroes cape, as they help Superworm assemble a team of mighty microbes to keep the soil healthy.

Head of Public Programmes, Lorraine Lecourtois commented:

“The Superworm trail is set to be a very special event at Wakehurst, as we bring this charming tale to life. The role of worms in the ecosystem is vital, so it’s a privilege to be able to bring wildlife science to the forefront of our family programme, through a range of activities for all ages. Combined with our exciting orkshops and practical events, we’re hoping to really immerse visitors in the tale of Superworm.”

Alex Sanson, Senior Brand Manager of Magic Light, said: “Kew and Wakehurst have done a fantastic job of bringing the story of Superworm to life in a completely new and really fun way. The activities are interactive and original – it’s great that they’ve been able to use the story to highlight the importance of biodiversity and what an important role minibeasts play in our ecosystem.”

Magic Light Pictures is an award-winning brand-building company with a strong background in production, creating rich and imaginative experiences for families worldwide. The company, founded in 2003, directly manages production, licensing, global distribution and marketing. The company balances its brand-building work with film making of the highest quality –including Oscar- nominated animated feature Chico & Rita, comedy thriller Wild Target and natural history documentary One Life. Magic Light’s key brand is The Gruffalo, from the best-selling picture books by author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler. Magic Light produced the Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning half-hour animated films, The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child.

Beyond the Superworm trail, visitors can also discover the wider stretches of Wakehurst’s wild landscape bursting into life with Spring colours. Bethlehem Wood comes alive with a carpet of bluebells and the stunning Water Gardens are home to beautiful pastels of magnolias.

For more details and tickets, visit: www.kew.org/wakehurst/superworm

Sussex Showcase 2023 is set to offer unforgettable culinary experience Presented by Table Talk Foundation, this week-long series of collaboration dinners will see seven of Sussex’s finest chefs joining forces with seven world-class chefs at some of the most exciting restaurants in Sussex.

With 11 Michelin stars, a Great British Menu winner, one MasterChef: The Professionals winner, and one MasterChef judge, the Sussex Showcase promises an unforgettable culinary experience. And, each ticket includes a donation to Table Talk Foundation, raising funds to provide food education to children in Sussex and support the hospitality industry.

Events include chef Matt Abe (Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Three Michelin Stars), alongside resident Executive Chef George Blogg (One Michelin Star), serving a sixcourse tasting menu with paired wines on Mon 6 March East Grinstead’s Gravetye Manor. Interlude at Leonardslee Gardens will welcome guest chef Nick Bril (The Jane, Two Michelin Stars) will team up with resident chef Jean Delport (One Michelin Star), to treat guests to a one-of-a-kind menu on Tues 7 March.

On Weds 8 March, Haywards Heath’s Heritage will offer a one-off 6-course tasting menu with paired wines created by guest chef Tom Shepherd (Upstairs, One Michelin Star *) and resident chef Matt Gillan (GBM winner). Steven Edwards’ etch in Hove welcomes guest chef Nick Beardshaw (Kerridge’s Bar & Grill) on Thurs 9 March, who’ll join resident chef Steven Edwards (MasterChef winner) at etch. to create a stunning 7-course tasting menu which will be served with matching wines from etch’s in-house sommelier Sam Weatherill.

Tickets to the Sussex Showcase events start from £170 and are available from www. tabletalk-foundation.com. Proceeds will go towards the Table Talk Foundation. For those unable to attend the Sussex Showcase events, there is also an online auction at: www. uk.givergy.com/TableTalkFoundation Prizes vary from dining experiences in Michelin Star restaurants to bottles of wine from top Sussex vineyards. Bids can start from as little as £25, and all money raised will go to Table’s work.

By working with Adopt a School Trust, Table Talk Foundation brings professional chefs into primary schools to educate children on healthy eating habits and provide insights into the hospitality industry. By addressing these critical issues, the foundation aims to combat health inequalities and make a positive impact on the nation’s health crisis.

The Foundation also provides physical and mental support services to the local hospitality industry. In conjunction with other charities such as Hospitality Action, the foundation’s efforts have helped thousands of families during the pandemic, and it has protected the mental and emotional well-being of those most vulnerable across UK hospitality.

There are local elections taking place across Sussex on Thurs 4 May, but there’s been a few changes in the process. Voters now need to present a valid form of photo identification at polling stations, which include: UK passports, driving licences, EEA identity cards, Biometric residence permits, PASS cards, older person’s bus passes or disabled person’s bus passes.

Your name on the electoral register should match the name on your ID. Expired ID will still be accepted if the photograph remains a good likeness of the voter. If you vote by post, you do not need to provide ID, unless you have lost or spoilt your postal vote and need to be issued with a new one.

If your name on the electoral register does not match the name on your ID, or you don’t possess an accepted form of ID, you’ll be able to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. More details can be found at: www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/voting

Traumfrau and FilmPride are celebrating International Women’s Day with a special event on Sat 11 March at Brighton’s Ironworks Studios. Wanna celebrate women, the days getting longer, the clothes getting smaller, the energy returning to our bodies, nature blossoming, and being queer?

Brighton’s iconic Traumfrau are celebrating International Women’s Day with combined film event and party. The evening will begin with a screening of short films featuring female-identifying filmmakers and stories, alongside a selection of International films curated by FilmPride.

This will be followed by one of their legendary parties across three rooms, filled with DJs, live performances, art and play. Wildblood and Queenie, Brighton’s queerest disco dears, deliver exactly what it says on their glittering tin. All things disco and divine with an eye on their queer house music heritage. Never guilty treasures, always blissful baselines and hands in the air anthems. Just how we like it. BBG, a Brighton-based collective of non-binary, trans, women, queer and gender non-conforming DJs will be taking revellers on a bassy and breaksy electronic music journey. There are more musical delights from PrincessPersia’s Party Poppers, DJ Stockport and I Am Fya.

There’s also a neurodivergent friendly and sober art room, for resting, screen-printing, making and recuperating, for those who don’t really like loud music, need plenty of breaks, or prefer softer lighting. Room Three enables you to drink and lounge, have your portrait take in their ‘vulva boot’, encounter some creatures or even drag up.

As always, it starts early and sells out fast, so get yourself set up by visiting: www.traumfrau.co.uk