| University of Bristol Botanic Garden | |
|---|---|
 Metrosideros excelsa displayed as part of the pollination collection | |
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| Type | Botanic Garden |
| Location | Bristol, England |
| Coordinates | 51°28′40″N2°37′33″W / 51.4777°N 2.6258°W /51.4777; -2.6258 |
| Area | 1.77 hectares (4.4 acres) |
| Operated by | University of Bristol |
TheUniversity of Bristol Botanic Garden is abotanical garden inBristol, England. The garden moved to its current site inStoke Bishop in 2005, having previously been at two other sites in the city. The 4,500 species of plants are displayed in collections relating to evolution, Mediterranean, local flora and rare natives and finally useful plants.
TheUniversity of Bristol established a botanic garden in 1882 atRoyal Fort House adjacent to Tyndall Avenue. It was laid out by Adolf Leipner.[1] This site was later known as the Hiatt Baker Garden.
In 1959 the site of the Botanic Garden was used to build the university's Senate House. The botanic collection was moved to the spacious gardens of Bracken Hill beside North Road, Leigh Woods, near theClifton Suspension Bridge. The Bracken Hill house and gardens had been established in 1886 byMelville Wills, a noted benefactor to Bristol University.
Bracken Hill house and some of the gardens continued to be used by theplant pathology and other services of the government'sNational Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS), advising farmers and growers fromHerefordshire andDorset toLands End during and afterWorld War II when UK-grown crops were vital to minimiserationing. See, for instance, the cereal and vegetable diseases work ofLawrence Ogilvie at Bracken Hill. The NAAS staff, laboratories and offices had moved there from theLong Ashton Research Station also to the west of Bristol.[2][3]
In 2005 a new garden was created in the grounds of 'The Holmes', a site inStoke Bishop oppositeChurchill Hall, and a number of the botanic collections, which supported the new themes, were transplanted. The new garden designed by Land Use Consultants advised byPeter Crane, was the first University Botanic Garden built in the UK in the 21st century. The Holmes had been built in 1879 and had a 1.77 hectares (4.4 acres) ornamental garden. It had been used byUnited States Army staff during the preparations for theNormandy landings duringWorld War II.[4]
Various organised tours and visits are available along with some horticultural talks and courses.[5]
The garden has 640 square metres (6,900 sq ft) ofgreenhouses divided into cool, warm-temperate, sub-tropic and tropical zones which house plants from the evolution collection. The tropical zone includes a raised pool with aquatic plants including the water lilyVictoria cruziana.[6][7][8]
The displays include 4500 plant species.[9] These are divided into collections of evolution, Mediterranean, local-flora, rare-native, and finally useful plants.[10] The useful-plant displays include herb gardens with western, Chinese and herbal medicine, including species used inAyurvedic and Southern African medicine.[11] Displays of plants from theMediterranean climate region include those from several continents.[12] Plant evolution is illustrated by several displays.[13]
The local-flora and rare-native collection includes the unusual species found in theAvon Gorge,Mendip Hills,Somerset Levels and surrounding areas.[14] These plants include theBristol Onion,Cheddar Pink and various species ofWhitebeam.[15]
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