The Horniman Museum and Gardens
Nature + Love: a transformational redevelopment project
The Horniman Museum and Gardens has two important ambitions: to widen its audience to better match the diversity of London’s population; and to place environmental sustainability and tackling the climate emergency at its heart. With values so well-aligned with ours at the Kusuma Trust, we’ve been a long-term partner of this popular south London visitor attraction.
In our second grant to the Horniman Museum and Gardens, we’ve awarded £500,000 to support their transformational Nature + Love redevelopment project. Our funding will go towards creating a new nature-themed play area, as well as improving access to the Horniman Nature Trail, the oldest nature trail in London.
- 2026 is the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Horniman Museum, London’s only museum of global nature and culture.
- 83% of children interviewed said that being in nature made them very happy. (The Children’s People and Nature Survey for England)
- The target for the first year after Nature + Love launches is 950,000 visitors – with 40% being first-time visitors, and 25% including a visit to the play area.
Opportunities to explore
The Horniman’s new play area will promote learning through exploration and play, which has proven benefits to children’s physical and psychological wellbeing. It will also encourage families to make the most of their gardens – one of the key outdoor green spaces in the borough of Lewisham.
For families who don’t feel museums are for them, the new area will offer an unintimidating and fun point of access to the Horniman Museum, with opportunities to explore further. Next to the play area, there will also be clear, inviting and step-free access to the nature trail.
The Nature + Love redevelopment will turn the Horniman Museum and Gardens into an accessible destination where more Londoners can have a deeper engagement with nature.
“The museum was a haven for me when I was a new mother with two young children. Your green and communal space is vital to the mental wellbeing of so many people.”
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