Kew: A year at Kew: Places: Europe

Kew's work in Europe

Wildlife Zone at Kew

The Wildlife Zone project involved designing a new pond, enhancing existing habitats and creating a way for visitors to appreciate these features without disturbing the wildlife. The whole project was conducted with the help of children from two local schools.

Where is the Wildlife Zone?

Wildlife and Habitats Teachers' Pack

An online resource pack based on the schools' work in Kew's Wildlife Zone.

This contains curriculum-linked ideas for studying habitats, creative projects, environmental games, wildlife fact-files, and suggestions for designing your own wildlife areas.

find out more...

The Conservation Area at Kew is a large corner of the Gardens that is already managed for nature. Within this is an area containing an old gravel pit. Staff wanted to make this corner the Wildlife Zone, and filling the pit with water to make a pond seemed the obvious thing to do. But it wasn’t that easy!

The Gravel Pit

The gravel pit was created in the late 1960s, when gravel was dug out for the foundations of the Alpine House area. The large hole and scarred landscape has been colonised by plants, closely followed by insects and other creatures.

There are some interesting and quite rare bog plants in the pit’s soggy bottom, and the sandy sides are home to bee colonies. Badgers have also built a sett in the side of the pit, so flooding the hole wasn’t an option.

A new pond

The main feature of the Wildlife Zone is a new pond, dug next to the gravel pit. This has access for schools' pond-dipping work. Native plants in and around the pond will attract butterflies and other insects, and a dead hedge has been built for 'minibeasts'. Visitors will be able to view the area from a wooden Observatory without disturbing the wildlife there.

Schoolchildren's involvement

Schoolchildren were involved in the whole planning and decision-making process, from the initial research through to planting. They researched the habitats and wildlife that were there, or might be if the area were improved; they studied pond design to identify features that were beneficial to wildlife, and also gave ideas for landscape features that would appeal to other schoolchildren or the visiting public.

This project started in late 2002 and was completed in early 2005.

We hope that the public have access to the Wildlife Zone Observatory, whilst pre-booked school groups can make full use of the area.

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