Sustainability in our Garden

The Hepworth Wakefield Garden isn’t just a place to pause, it’s a living expression of our commitment to biodiversity, education, and climate action.

Designed by renowned landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, and managed by our cultural gardener Katy Merrington this award-winning public garden is free to all and forms a key part of our sustainability journey.

At The Hepworth Wakefield Garden we are currently:

Building habitats for urban wildlife
From insect hotels and bird boxes to deadwood structures, we’re creating safe spaces
for species to thrive in an urban setting.

Planting for pollinators
Our planting scheme is designed for year-round interest and so provides a long season of pollen and nectar to support bees, butterflies and other invertebrates. We nurture the garden with close observation and care and do not use pesticides or herbicides.

Embedding nature in learning
Our biodiversity-themed sketchbooks and garden workshops for schools and families
help connect creativity with environmental education.

Rewilding hardscapes
Even our car park will have a purpose as we are designing bespoke planters with pollinators in mind. They will have a habitat for solitary bees and be filled with wildflowers that are particularly popular with insects and butterflies in the area. These will create mini ecosystems in combination with pollinator friendly car-park edges.

The Hepworth Wakefield Garden is a living space for nature, and we invite you to be part of our story by helping us track biodiversity in our garden.

Using the free iNaturalist app, you can record the plants, insects and other wildlife you see on site. Every observation helps us monitor biodiversity in real time, supporting our commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

You can learn more about iNaturalist and view our page by clicking HERE.

Join a global community and help shape a greener future at The Hepworth Wakefield.

Our garden initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global framework of 17 goals designed to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure wellbeing for all by 2030.

Our garden links to the following Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities – By providing free, accessible green space that supports wellbeing and nature in the heart of Wakefield.

SDG 13 Climate Action – By reducing our emissions, managing garden waste sustainably, and using nature-based solutions to respond to the climate crisis.