Can you help save the Kew Road Ha-ha?
Did you know that along Kew Road at the Old Deer Park Sports Ground you’re walking beside an historic Ha-ha?
It’s a landscape design element that in the 18th century created the illusion of a continuous lawn while providing a boundary for livestock. It’s hard to imagine this was ever the case with Kew Road’s 21 st century tarmac and traffic!
According to Habitats & Heritage research, the Kew Road Ha-ha may have been installed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown who was made royal gardener in 1764 and redesigned the grounds of the Richmond Estate and the newly created Kew Gardens in his trademark Arcadian style.
Currently in a rather poor state of repair, the Kew Road Ha-ha is the subject of a conservation project run by Habitats & Heritage. The project’s aims are to clear the invasive species and dangerous trees from the ditch, restore the wall and create a native wildlife corridor for species such as hedgehogs, butterflies and beetles.
In November, Habitats & Heritage are hosting an eventsat the Ha-ha which you are
invited to attend to help and also learn about this important project.
November 23rd 10am – 12pm: Tour of Ha-Ha at Old Deer Park and Q&A session.
Please gather outside the Old Deer Park Sports Grounds, 187 Kew Road, just before
10am.
More details at Habitats & Heritage
Jess Vining, Heritage Projects Officer from Habitats & Heritage, litter picking at the Kew Road Ha-ha
The Kew Society is delighted to support this important conservation project and our Environment Trustee Dr. Sarah Clarke will be going along so please join her.
