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.