The Botanic Gardens - Oxford

The botanic garden differs from other types of gardens because Botanic gardens are collections of plants that are grown for purposes other than purely aesthetic reasons. However plants are arranged in attractive, sympathetic and exciting ways. Gardeners come here to find inspiration at these gardens.

Plants are grown to support teaching programmes, for research scientists in this University and elsewhere and as part of plant conservation projects.

The Garden is a national reference collection of 7,000 different types of plant, making it the most compact yet diverse collection of plants in the World – there is even more biological diversity here than there is in tropical rain forests and other biodiversity hotspots.

The Garden is split into three sections. The Glasshouses contain plants that need protection from the extremes of the British weather. The area outside the Walled Garden contains classic garden features such as a Water Garden and Rock Garden as well as the innovative Black Border and Autumn Borders. Within the Walled Garden plants are grouped in a number of different ways such as by country of origin, botanic family or economic use.