The Bridge in Kew Gardens

As soon as I saw the railing on this bridge, I knew I had to write about it, and link it in to TexWisGirl's 'Good Fences' meme.  Kew Gardens in London has long had a lake, though the first one in the late 1700's was later filled in; this one dates from the 1840's when they were building the Victorian greenhouses and had dug some small gravel pits which were used as a starting point.

The bridge on the other hand, is quite new, dating from 2006, and designed to lure visitors to some of the lesser-visited parts of the grounds.

Known as Sackler Crossing (after the generous donors who paid for it), it stretches across the middle of the lake in a graceful curve, linking the new treetop walk with the Rhododendron Dell.

It's certainly a beautiful bridge, in a beautiful setting, but what attracted me was the unusual railing, consisting of flat vertical brass bars, close enough together that from a distance it looks like a solid wall.

Obviously kids, and probably adults too, enjoy running their hands along the top of the railing.

If I lived in London, one thing I would have is an annual membership in Kew Gardens!

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