Kew Gardens

In December we visited The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, near Richmond. Kew Gardens are extensive gardens, glasshouses and garden structures covering 300 acres. The gardens were formed at the start of the 18th Century by Lord Capel of Tewkesbury, in Kew Park, as an exotic garden. It was greatly extended by Augusta Dowager, Princess of Wales. Now Kew Gardens is a leading centre of botanical research, a training area for professional gardeners and a visitor attraction (in 2005 1.48 million people visited the gardens). http://www.kew.org/

(The Palm House, 1844-1848, built to house palms and other tropical plants. Now the largest Victorian glass house in existence)

(Man made lake in the gardens - the entire landscape of Kew is built on a floodplain, therefore any change in relief is artificial. This is also so of any water feature)

(Mosaic on the floor of the underpass beneath the Tree Top Walkway)

(Tree Top Walkway - the walkway was constructed in 2008, it stands 18 metres high, and stretches 200m above a woodland glade)

Ham House

History & Cultural Studies visit to inform essay assessment:

Discuss how ideas from the Italian and French Renaissance influenced the design of the house and gardens at Ham House. As well as the layout and planting of the garden discuss how the building establishes specific sets of relationships to the garden.

Wey & Arun Canal

The Wey & Arun Canal runs through Surrey and West Sussex in Southern England. In October 2008, the Landscape students from all years spent 4 nights aboard a canal barge! We picked up the barges in Guildford and sailed down river near to Godalming.

The Boats

Sleeping arrangements

Plans of Munstead Wood as designed by Edwin Lutyens for Gertrude Jekyll.

The gardens of the house were designed by Gertrude Jekyll herself, forming a intricate relationships between the building and the landscape.

Historic map of Godalming

Water depth gauge

"Sock Wrestling"

Some London Landscape Architecture

Our first trip was into Central London; The route began at Tower Hill Underground Station (Trinity Place) and finished at the Thames Barrier Gardens. (The map below shows the entire route)

We walked along the North side of the Thames between Tower Hill and Wapping.

(Tower Bridge - 1894)

(Small harbour on North Bank near Tower Bridge)

(Children's playground in urban setting; very contemporary design and use of materials)




Thames Barrier Park