“The Treetop walkway is THE attraction of the area.”
Kew's Val Boujard rhapsodises about the wilder areas of the Gardens
If you’ve ever wandered into the wilder edges of Kew Gardens and felt like you’d stumbled into another world, you’ve probably set foot in Val Boujard’s domain. As Arboretum Supervisor, Val oversees Oxenhouse – a quietly spectacular area where manicured collections give way to a naturalistic woodland that buzzes with wildlife and rewards those who slow down and look up. From caramel-scented Azara blooms to climbing hydrangeas that disappear into towering oaks, Val and her team work hard to make it all seem effortless.
I caught up with her to talk wildflower meadows, resilient trees and the joy of those early-morning moments in Redwood Grove.
What makes the areas you manage so different from the rest of Kew?
Oxenhouse (the area of Kew Gardens I manage) is located far away from any public gates. It is a wilder area, sitting at the transition between the manicured collections and the Natural Area just behind us. In the Woodland Glade for example, the plants are presented to look as natural as possible, with what appears to be a natural forest hiding the work of gardeners. It is the same with the Lily Pond - it is wild. We have created a naturalistic look and encourage insects, invertebrates and birds to come and stay. We have one of the biggest concentration of newts in that pond.
Why is it important to focus on native plants and habitats in this part of Kew?
The area surrounding Queen Charlotte’s Cottage has the Natural Area as its neighbour, and it is important to protect this area from non-native species. Also, historically the Cottage ground was an English woodland. Saying that it is also the home to many Rhododendrons ponticum because the Victorians loved them. Today we focus on native plants to restore the feeling of an old cottage sitting amongst an (almost) English woodland.
Are there any plants people often miss or walk past without noticing?
Yes, in the Old Woodland Glade we have an amazing climbing Hydrangea from Mexico – Hydrangea seemanii – climbing all the way to the very top of our old Oak trees. It is an absolute wonder when it is in full bloom in summer, but you need to look up to see it and so many people don’t. Azara microphylla is another curiosity with its caramel scented flowers in spring. These are so tiny that people do not notice them. Another beauty is the Neolitsea sericea. The new brownish red growth is stunning, and for the ones who pay even more attention, if you look at the underside of the mature leaves, they are totally silver. One of my favourite trees!