Cambridge University Botanic Gardens

I’d put the Botanic Gardens down on my weather dependent list and thankfully while there was a lot of heavy rain during my visit to Cambridge all of it occured in the evening long after I’d returned to my hotel. Thus I was able to spend several hours walking around the gardens without needing to worry about seeking shelter from the elements. The gardens contain over 8,000 plant species primarily as a teaching and research resource.

There are several entrances to the garden – I entered through the Brookside Gate and bought my ticket there (£7.20). There wasn’t a great deal of variety of flowers to see in March but the paths through the trees were lovely and well kept and full of daffodils.

The original Botanic Garden was founded in 1762 and was in the centre of Cambridge, its purpose to grow plants for teaching the university’s medical students. The present site was purchsed in 1831 and covers over 40 acres – the first tree was planted in 1846.

One of my favourite areas was the Glasshouse Range, a series of glasshouses with different habitats in each one. There are tropical rainforests, oceanic islands, arid lands and tropical wetlands represented here. I loved walking through all the different rooms, it all felt very 19th century.

I also enjoyed the fountain on the east end of the main walk which was completed in 1970. It’s designed to represent giant water lily leaves on several levels and was very impressive.

I also liked the quietness of the Limestone Rock Garden. The beds are laid out according to where their plants originate – the Alps, South Africa, Asia etc. The species are chosen based on how well they’ll survive the Cambridge weather. This part of the garden dates from 1954.

The Winter Garden was also interesting. Developed in 1979 it highlights plants that thrive during the colder months with some surprising splashes of colour.

After my wanderings I then stopped off at the Garden Cafe for a fortifying cup of tea and slice of homemade cake. The food was excellent but bear in mind that payment is card only. Overall I really enjoyed the gardens and I’m glad I managed to visit.