It was the secret rural playground for the monarchy for hundreds of years, but now a vast swathe of woodland is being opened to the public for the first time at Kew Gardens.

The 16 hectare site was once part of a huge deer park connected to Henry VII’s royal estate of Richmond House, and improved by George III.

It was donated to the Royal Botanic Gardens by Queen Victoria in 1898, but has been left largely untouched for more than 100 years, except to maintain the species.

Now for the first time, a woodland walk has been created through the impressive trees, some of which date back to Tudor England, such as sweet chestnuts which were planted in the 1600s.