Kew Green Nursery

An exciting opportunity to build a garden from scratch in the beautiful surroundings of Kew Green, a stone's throw from Kew Gardens, London. 

As part of a total overhaul of the building and surrounding outside space, converting this Tudor style building from restaurant to Children's Nursery School, the garden, front of house and cafe space were all transformed. 

The brief was a jungle inspired forest school, making the most of established trees and bringing the wider world into a learning environment for 2-4 year olds. 

Planting consists of large bamboos, with mixed leafy ferns, fatsia and grasses to give year round colour, texture and movement. Large leaves give the jungle feel, and bright pops of colour from heucheras throughout compliment the large garden mural. 

We added two rows of planting forming a hidden planted tunnel ‘The Jungle Run’ for children to run through, arriving from front gate through to open play space with climbing frame, water and sand play, outdoor painting, mud kitchen and much more. 

In the rear garden space a raised bed provides space to ‘grow your own’ with herbs, strawberries and espalier fruit trees for starters, with space for children and staff to add new crops to the space. A second mural ties the space together. 

At the entrance and in the cafe area, large planters have been filled with mixed long-season and evergreen planting. All with a pollinator friendly approach, colourful and inviting.

With thanks to:

Kew Green Nursery

Josie @Loverfighteruk for her amazing mural skills

Ciaran @Ciarandancedesign for inviting me onto the project

Ron & Team @RandS for their hard landscaping works

Provender nurseries for plant supplies