Durham University Botanic Garden

Type| Botanic Garden
Location| Hollingside Lane, Durham, England
Coordinates| 54°45′38″N 1°34′31″W﻿ / ﻿54.76056°N 1.57528°W﻿ / 54.76056; -1.57528
Area| 10 hectares
Created|

* 1925 (original location)
* 1970 (current site)

Operated by| Durham University
Visitors| 78,000 (2007/08)
Open| All year
Website| www.durham.ac.uk/botanic.garden/

Durham University Botanic Garden is the botanical garden of Durham University, located in Durham, England. The site is set in 25 acres (10 ha) of mature woodlands in the southern outskirts of the city.[1] The garden was founded in 1925 and has been located on its present site since 1970; the visitor centre was opened in 1988 by the then Chancellor of Durham University, Dame Margot Fonteyn.[2] The garden attracts over 80,000 visitors annually[3] and has been featured in The Guardian's Country Diary[4] and on Channel 4's Matt Baker: Travels with Mum & Dad.[5]

## History

[edit]

The original Durham University Botanic Garden was established in 1925 adjacent to the university's science laboratories, where the university's Bill Bryson Library now stands. Increased pressure on land for buildings on that site led to the garden being relocated to its current site on Hollingside Lane behind Grey College in 1970. It was then part of the university's Botany Department and the gardens included greenhouses used for teaching and research.[2][6]

A guidebook from the 1970s stated that: "Because the garden is still in its early developmental stage, it is not appropriate to encourage visits from the general public at this time."[7] However, by the late 1980s it was receiving 6,000 visitors annually and a visitor centre was built in 1988 to accommodate these.[2]

## Features

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Statues at the botanical garden Plants at the botanical garden

The garden has an array of exotic plants with collections ranging from Chile in South America, China and Japan in the Far East, as well as from Southern Africa and New Zealand.[8]

The garden is also home to an arboretum, Alpine garden and bamboo grove.[9] Within the glasshouses tropical rainforest flora, desert plants and species from the Mediterranean are on show as well as tropical insects such as stick insects, scorpions, butterflies and tarantulas.[10]

There are self-guided tours and trails around the garden, including a science trail, a quiz trail and a nature trail aimed at children.[11] The gardens also host a variety of events[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Botanic Garden - Durham University".
2. ^ a b c "History of the Garden". Botanic Garden. Durham University. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
3. ^ "Durham Botanic Garden's lockdown photo diary". BBC News. 20 June 2020.
4. ^ Phil Gates (6 November 2019). "Country diary: magical mushrooms spark the children's imagination".
5. ^ Baker, Matt (9 September 2023). "Durham Regatta". Matt Baker: Travels with Mum & Dad. Season 3. Episode 2. Channel 4. "The Bakers help out at the Durham Regatta, discover the secrets of Durham Castle and explore Durham University Botanic Garden's exotic wonders"
6. ^ James Hendrie (14 May 2024). "Durham University: Exploring the 'unheralded' botanical gardens". Forestry Journal. Newsquest.
7. ^ "University of Durham Botanic Gardens" (PDF). p. 16. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
8. ^ "Botanic Garden : What's Here - Durham University".
9. ^ "Durham University Botanic Garden - Botanic Garden in Durham, Durham - NewcastleGateshead". Archived from the original on 2 March 2013.
10. ^ "Durham University Botanic Garden - Botanic Garden in Durham, Durham - NewcastleGateshead". Archived from the original on 2 March 2013.
11. ^ "Tours, Talks and Trails". Botanic Gardens. Durham University. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
12. ^ "What's on". Botanic Gardens. Durham University. Retrieved 21 May 2024.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Durham University Botanic Garden.

* Botanic Garden Homepage
* Durham Tourism Office Information on the gardens
* Images of the Cactus House

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Fiona Hill
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Karen O'Brien
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List of Durham University people

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