Take a walk in secret royal woodland for the first time
IT WAS the secret rural playground for the monarchy for hundreds of years, but now a vast swathe of woodland is being opened to the public for the first time at Kew Gardens.
The 16-hectare site was once part of a huge deer park connected to Henry VII’S royal estate of Richmond House, and was improved by George III.
It was donated to the Royal Botanic Gardens by Queen Victoria in 1898, but has been left largely untouched for more than 100 years, except to maintain the species.
Now for the first time, a woodland walk has been created through the impressive trees, some of which date back to Tudor England, such as sweet chestnuts which were planted in the 1600s.
The wood includes species of ancient yews from which English longbows were crafted, allowing Henry V to take Agincourt. “Some say that if it wasn’t for the English yew we would all be speaking French now,” said Richard Barley, head of horticulture at Kew.
“And even today the bark of the yew still provides an important cancer drug, Taxol.
“The Woodland Walk explores a new part of the gardens and takes visitors on a journey through some of the UK’S best loved and well known native gems.
“We hope this will give visitors valuable insight into the importance of these trees, as well as a wider understanding of the threats and diseases that they face, and what action must be taken to help them thrive.”
Kew conservationists hope the walk will inspire gardeners to take better care of indigenous British trees, under threat from pests and climate change.
The emerald ash borer beetle, which has wiped out trees in the US, is expected to arrive in Britain within the next few years and could devastate ash trees already decimated by ash dieback.
Mr Barley added: “Gardeners need to be careful about importing plants so that pests are not brought into Britain. They need to be observant and notice any changes to their trees.”
The Woodland Walk was launched as part of Kew’s summer festival that opened this month.