Our Summer Trip...
The Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Cambridge University Botanic Garden
This unique garden was established as a University teaching
and research resource by Professor John Stevens Henslow on land acquired in
1831, and finally opened to the public in 1846. Henslow, who is perhaps now
best remembered for inspiring his pupil Charles Darwin with a love of natural
science, recognised the need to study plants in their own right. He was
convinced that trees were the most important plants in the world and these form
the framework of the Garden. Today the Garden welcomes around 100,000 visitors
each year.
With a framework of mature trees and shrubs, this paradise of plants comprises
diverse, superbly landscaped settings including: the Rock Garden, representing
the alpine plants from the mountains of every continent; the Lake and Water
Garden, teeming with bird life; tropical rainforest, the alpine house and
seasonal displays in the Glasshouses; and the historic Systematic Beds,
displaying 1600 hardy representatives of more than 80 families of flowering
plants.
The Garden also boasts many important plant collections including lavenders,
hardy geraniums, British native plants displayed on the Ecological Mound, and
the finest collection of trees in the East of England.
The Garden also boasts many important plant collections including lavenders,
hardy geraniums, British native plants displayed on the Ecological Mound, and
the finest collection of trees in the East of England.
The Garden looks wonderful all through the year. After discovering the
remarkable use of berry, bark and foliage in the beautiful Winter Garden, you
can warm up in the Glasshouses and travel from the tropics to the desert in
search of cacti, carnivorous plants, orchids and the extraordinary Jade Vine,
in glorious flower in March.
The Herbaceous Borders, Scented Garden and Dry Garden are colourful highlights
of summer, but don't miss the jewelled carpet of spring bulbs and early alpines
in the Woodland Garden and Rock Garden or the foliage fireworks of the Autumn
Colour Garden. The Genetics Garden has been newly-planted to demonstrate how
genetic variation gives rise to the plant diversity all around you.
About our trip
We visited on 13th July. Our trip was by coach, and was open to both allotment holders and other local gardeners, with seats allocated on a first-come basis. It was extremely popular (indeed, over-subscribed).
We've left this information about the Botanic Gardens on our website because it would be quite feasible to visit the gardens by rail leaving from Alexandra Palace, Hornsey, Harringey or Finsbury Park. The Gardens are quite close to Cambridge Station, and the website for the Gardens gives directions http://www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/
