Secluded Garden

Located between the Main Gate and the Princess of Wales Conservatory, the Secluded Garden provides a quiet retreat for visitors.

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Secluded Garden

Secluded Garden

Did you know?

  • The panels in the secluded garden include extracts from The enkindled spring by D H Lawrence and Amoretti Sonnet 26 by Edmund Spenser.

History and design

The Secluded Garden was created in 1995 by garden designer Anthea Gibson, with the aim of using plants to stimulate sight, smell, touch and hearing. Among the plantings are panels with extracts of poems highlighting the senses.

Those entering from the entrance closest to the Main Gate pass through an avenue of rustling bamboo (Phyllostachys viridi-glaucescens) beside a trickling stream. The cottage-style beds beyond are planted with scented flowers, such as Rosa ‘Madame Isaac Periere’; fruits, including apples and pears; and visually stimulating species such as Cistus, with showy tissue-like pink flowers. At the heart of the garden is a circular seating area bounded by pleached lime trees, Tilia x euchlora with a spiralling slate water feature “7 Slate Towers” designed by Daniel Harvey at its centre.

Things to look out for

Just outside the bamboo-lined entrance to the Secluded Garden is a bed highlighting plants that have been named after the Gardens at Kew and Wakehurst Place. These include the spindle tree (Euonymus fortunei ‘Kewensis), stinking Benjamin (Trillium erectum ‘Kew Beauty') and lily-of-the-valley bush (Pieris formosa var. forrestii ‘Wakehurst’). The latter, whose young leaves are an intense red, was first found as a natural hybrid at Wakehurst Place.

Kids’ mission

Can you name two scented fruits mentioned by Edward Thomas in his poem All to sweetness turns?

1 comment on ''

Tom Tomalin says

17/05/2012 4:44:41 PM | Report abuse

is the Victoria gate and kew gardend Ready for the Blue Blobbers on Sunday.

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Your Kew

We invite photographers to capture the sights at Kew and Wakehurst. These images are a selection of images submitted by photographers from around the world. We hope you enjoy them. You can see more on Flickr.

Events at Kew Gardens

Featured Events and Attractions:
north american landscape kew at the british museum 2012

North American Landscape - Kew at the British Museum

Thu 10 May - Fri 25 May 2012

 

Three Humps by David Nash

Talk - David Nash at Kew Gardens

Part of David Nash 2012

Tue 29 May 2012

Don’t miss this unique chance to hear from David Nash as he talks about his life and work and the things that have inspired his creativity – from running tables and boulders to the wood of trees brought down by storms, lightning or disease.

See your favourite reasons to visit