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?

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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

Featured Events and Attractions:
Watering bromeliads in the Tropical Nursery

Walks and tours - Tropical Nursery tour

Part of Tropical Extravaganza 2012 festival

Sat 04 February - Sat 03 March 2012, 1.30pm, 2pm and 2.30pm

Saturdays only
Go behind the scenes with Kew’s expert guides on a fascinating tour of the Tropical Nursery.

Horticulturist pruning orchids at Kew Gardens

Course - Orchids for beginners

Part of Tropical Extravaganza

Thu 16 February 2012, 10.30am - 3.30pm

This one day course aims to give you the knowledge and confidence to be able to grow orchids successfully in your own home.