Description
Cambridge University Botanic Garden opened to the public in 1846, and develops and displays over 8,000 different plant species in 40 beautiful landscaped acres.
Professor John Stevens Henslow, who is perhaps now best remembered for inspiring his pupil Charles Darwin with a love for natural science, recognised the need to study plants in their own right and established this University teaching garden. He was convinced that trees were the most important plants in the world and these form the framework of the Botanic Garden.
The Botanic Garden has a framework of mature trees and shrubs, a plant paradise comprising diverse, superbly landscaped settings including: the Rock Garden, representing the alpine plants from every continent's mountains; 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 from more than 80 flowering plant families.
The Botanic Garden also boasts many important plant collections including lavenders, hardy geraniums, British native plants displayed on the Ecological Mound, and the finest tree collection in the East of England.
The Botanic 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 searching for 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 seen in 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.
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