Refuge closer to lush shady area (7)
I believe the answer is:
harbour
'refuge' is the definition.
(I know that harbour is a type of refuge)
'closer to lush shady area' is the wordplay.
'closer to' suggests the final letters (the letter which ends or closes the word).
'shady area' becomes 'arbour' (shaded area of a garden).
The last letter of 'lush' is 'h'.
'h'+'arbour'='HARBOUR'
(Other definitions for harbour that I've seen before include "Secretly maintain - port" , "house" , "Bear" , "Tie up the shipping here" , "Coastal haven" .)