Today I went to Kew Gardens, which is the UK’s oldest and most well known botanical gardens, and only a couple of miles from my flat. I should have been there before really, but you never find time for the things on your doorstep.

You have to pick a good day for it, as admission is a rather hefty £13 (a whole pound less for all manner of concessions, none of which apply to me). Today didn’t disappoint though – weather was perfect, and the gardens are spectacular in the sunshine.

We tried out the new treetop walkway, which snakes through the treetops about 20m above ground level, and it’s great. Some spectacular views as well – you could see the arch of Wembley stadium to the north. Unfortunately the lift was out of service so Auntie couldn’t come up with us.

Kew has several very large and famous glass conservatories, the oldest built in the mid nineteenth century, and they house some of the world’s largest indoor plants, including an eighteen metre Chilean wine palm, which has been growing in this conservatory for over 150 years!

It’s a shame they won’t let Shadow in. While I’ve been walking around Kew she’s had to stay at home so now she’s insisting on going for a walk right now.