Conservation Area

The Conservation Area is mainly woodland, with many British trees represented, including oak, beech, holly and yew. In spring, the woodland floor is a much-admired carpet of bluebells, wild garlic and snowdrops.

There are also some rare native trees, such as the Plymouth pear and the Bristol mountain ash - fine examples of Kew's conservation efforts. Some elderly exotics, the Turkey oak and the beautiful red oak, are a treasured legacy of the site's Victorian plantings.

There are meadows and grassy rides, wetland, ponds and a small gravel pit, all helping to support native butterflies, dragonflies and other insects. Amphibians, too, find a home here. Many of them are in decline both locally and nationally due to changes in farming and new building bringing about the loss of many of their habitats.

Larger mammals, such as foxes and badgers also thrive in the Conservation Area and for the many visitors wishing to learn more about how badgers live, there is a human-sized badger sett to explore.

Please note that to help conserve plant and animal species in the wildlife Conservation Area, we ask visitors to keep to the hard-surfaced paths, the boardwalk and the elevated viewing platform with its views across the gravel pit, pond and wildflower meadows.

Continue the tour

Back up to: South Western Zone

Carry on to: Gravel Pit