Western Zone • Bamboo Garden • Rhododendron Dell

More History and Heritage.....

1771-1820: George III and Joseph Banks

1885-1945: Imperial Kew

'Capability' Brown

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Western Zone

This western area of the Gardens was also once part of Richmond Gardens. It is interesting for its important specific collections, such as the Bamboo Garden, established in 1891-2, which now holds the largest collection of bamboos in the country; and the Azalea Garden planted in 1882; linked by collections of trees.

There are also some surviving historic landscape features, such as Brown's Hollow Walk, now known as Rhododendron Dell, and his Ha-Ha between the Gardens and the Thames.

Prior to Brown's landscaping in the late 18th century, Bridgeman's much-celebrated Riverside Terrace was constructed here and the area still has physical and visual links with the Thames.

One result of 19th and 20th century plantings designed to screen off industrial development in Brentford is that it can be difficult to gain a sense of the relationship between the Gardens and the Thames.

Nonetheless, as one of the more relaxing and isolated parts of the Gardens, the area is popular with visitors, many of whom arrive through Brentford Gate with its associated car park.

In the Western Zone:

Bamboo Garden

Rhododendron Dell

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