South Western zone
Around Queen Charlotte's Cottage
This southwestern corner of the Gardens was once part of Richmond
Gardens and contains some fragments of a very early formal canal
garden designed by Charles Bridgeman, that used to run north-west
from Richmond Lodge.
In the 18th century, first Charles Bridgeman and William Kent and
later 'Capability' Brown designed and redesigned the gardens to
create a more natural landscape of woodland and parkland.
Later a rustic cottage was built for Queen Charlotte, extending
what was probably a keeper's cottage from the earlier menagerie.
Queen Charlotte's Cottage is now the focal point in the area, situated
in the heart of mid-19th century Arboretum.
The grounds around the Cottage are managed as a nature conservation
area, including maintaining a population of protected Great Crested
Newts and a number of badger setts. The natural woodland is strongly
encouraged, with the introduction of rare British native trees,
such as the Plymouth pear; and the glory of one of London's better
bluebell woods is an annual draw for visitors.
The Stable Yard, which acts as the base for the horticultural
and arboricultural management of the Gardens is also in the area
but closed to the public.
In the South Western Zone:
 Queen
Charlotte's Cottage
Cedar
Vista
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Vista Zone
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George
II & Queen Charlotte
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