The University of Reading's £1m Learning Garden opens free on Saturday 19 September, 11am to 3pm, no booking. After that, visits are by arrangement only.

The University of Reading’s new Learning Garden opens its gates to the public for free this Saturday, 19 September. You can drop in any time between 11am and 3pm, and there is no need to book.

It is a rare chance to look round. On any other day the garden is closed to casual visitors (University of Reading, 3 September 2026).

What the Learning Garden is

The garden sits inside the historic walled garden of the Harris Garden, on the university’s Whiteknights campus. The university describes it as a “living laboratory” for teaching about climate change, biodiversity and sustainability.

It was formally opened in June as a flagship project for the university’s centenary year. The university puts the total investment at close to £1 million, paid for by the university and by donors to its Centenary Fund (University of Reading, 19 June 2026).

The garden has five themed zones, covering:

  • climate change
  • biodiversity
  • water systems
  • food production
  • practical action on environmental problems

Schools have been using it already. When it opened in June, the university said more than 1,500 pupils had visited during a pilot programme. By September that figure had reached almost 1,800.

Fundraising for the garden is still going on, and the university takes donations online.

What happens on Saturday

University staff will be in the garden to answer questions. Two partners who contributed to the space will run activities and talk about their work:

  • Freely Fruity
  • the Tree Council

Kirsty Shakespeare, the university’s engagement project manager for climate and environmental sustainability, said the garden was “designed to help people of all ages understand the environmental challenges we face and feel inspired to take action of their own.”

What it means for you

Saturday is the easy way in. The university’s own access page says the Learning Garden is “by prior arrangement only” and “not open to casual visitors”. It says further public openings will come at events such as its annual Community Festival, but it has not published dates (access to the Learning Garden).

Finding it. Go to the Harris Garden, beside the Philip Lyle building (postcode RG6 6UR), and follow the signs to the Learning Garden. The Harris Garden is about two miles south of the town centre (Harris Garden).

Getting there. The university’s visitor page for the Harris Garden says (plan your visit):

  • Parking near the garden is for university permit holders only. The nearest pay and display car park is Car Park 1a, about a 20-minute walk away.
  • Bus route 21 serves Whiteknights all year. The garden is a 15-minute walk from the UoR Whiteknights House stop.
  • The garden can only be reached on foot, from central Whiteknights or from Earley Gate through The Wilderness.

For other ways around town, see our trains and travel page.

Before you go. The Harris Garden is wheelchair accessible, with some uneven surfaces. Dogs are not allowed, except assistance dogs. There are normally no toilets in the garden, but compost toilets will be on site throughout Saturday’s open day.

Schools and community groups can book the Learning Garden for the 2026/27 academic year by emailing uornaturepark@reading.ac.uk. The university says use by community groups is free, but it must be booked and approved in advance, with priority for groups running educational activities (community groups).

The rest of the Harris Garden stays open to everyone from dawn to dusk, every day of the week.