During this wet summer, you might be wondering how best to enjoy your garden during those rare sunny days. The Oxford Botanic Gardens are a fantastic place to visit year-round, offering new things to see and learn with each visit. It’s an excellent source of inspiration for your garden, no matter the season.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a fantastic visit to the Oxford Botanic Gardens, where we enjoyed an insightful talk by the head horticulturist and curator. The gardens are thoughtfully divided into different sections, each specializing in various aspects of plant life.

What I found particularly interesting about the Oxford Botanic Gardens is their commitment to both educating visitors and continuing to learn from the plants themselves. The statement, “Plants provide the air we breathe, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the medicines we need,” https://www.obga.ox.ac.uk/ captures the vital role plants play in our lives.

Their mission to combat ‘plant blindness’ and spark more interest in plants really resonates with us as a garden design company focused on fostering a love for wildlife and our desire to learn and progress. We found the talk especially fascinating and beneficial, offering us fresh ideas on planting styles.

Bees being attracted to blue plants and what this means for our gardens

The thing with gardening, plants, and nature there is always more to learn, a little fun fact I found fascinating that I didn’t know before was that bees are most attracted to blue/purple plants. Therefore, when considering what planting to choose to attract more bees and pollinators to your garden you should consider using blue/ purple-coloured plants. When we are designing gardens, we have wildlife as our core focus and make sure that pollinators will be drawn to the planting plans we have carefully selected.

History of the Botanic Gardens

What makes the Oxford Botanic Gardens truly special is that it was established in 1621, making it the oldest botanic garden in Great Britain. During our tour with the curator and lead horticulturists, we learned about the profound influence history has had on the development of the gardens and how they’ve adapted over the years. It’s fascinating to see how they continue to learn from the plants and adjust their practices accordingly.

For instance, the curator mentioned that the greenhouse, built during the Victorian era, lacks a modern sprinkler system, requiring all the plants to be hand-watered. This makes watering a long and tiring task, especially when the weather finally warms up.

Historical Significance and Cultural Heritage

The gardens were created as a physic garden – which usually are a collection of medical plants, Oxford Botanic Gardens developed from that.

The yew tree in the walled garden is the oldest plant in the garden, planted in 1645 by Bobart the Elder. At the time, its medicinal properties were unknown, and it was simply planted as an ornamental hedge. Today, we know that yew has significant medicinal value and is used in cancer therapy.

Scientific Legacy: Founded as a resource for the study of medicinal plants, the garden has played a pivotal role in botanical research and education for centuries. It continues to be a hub for scientific inquiry and conservation efforts.

Literary Connections: Poets, writers, and scholars have drawn inspiration from the garden’s tranquil atmosphere. It’s not hard to imagine Lewis Carroll or J.R.R. Tolkien finding solace and creativity among the blooms and pathways.

Oxford Botanic Gardens Biodiversity

The Oxford Botanic Garden spans over four acres and houses an impressive collection of over 5,000 plant species. Divided into various sections based on plant types and geographic origins, each area offers a unique glimpse into the world of botanical diversity. The Walled Garden: Surrounded by historic walls, this area features a carefully selected collection of medicinal plants, aromatic herbs, and rare species, giving visitors a sensory journey through both history and horticulture.

The Glasshouses and the giant Amazonian Water Lily

In 1850-1851, the glasshouses were constructed, including the pond in the water lily house, which was custom-built for the giant Amazonian water lily (Victoria amazonica). These glasshouses provide controlled environments for delicate plants from tropical, alpine, and desert climates.

They now cultivate the more manageable species – Victoria cruziana, which closely resembles its larger counterpart. The pond also hosts the stunning day-blooming Nymphaea x daubenyana, a hybrid water lily first propagated at Oxford Botanical Gardens in 1874.

‘Remarkable structures in nature can help us to unlock design challenges in engineering. The form of these waterlilies could inspire giant floating platforms, such as solar panels in the ocean. There’s a lot we can learn from leaves,’ concluded Dr. Thorogood. This demonstrates that scientists continue to look to plants for advancements in science and technology. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220209154925.htm

Education at Oxford Botanic Gardens

The Oxford Botanic Garden is more than just a peaceful walk; it’s a lively hub for education and public engagement.

During my visit, I discovered this firsthand and learned about the planting, from a more natural self-seeding to a more structured one. Guided tours and workshops, led by knowledgeable guides, offer themed explorations of the garden, showcasing its historical, botanical, and ecological importance.

If you’re looking for a place that blends art, science, and nature in a truly unique way, the Oxford Botanic Garden is the spot to be. Throughout the year, the garden comes alive with a variety of events and exhibitions, from vibrant seasonal plant festivals to captivating art displays. These activities aren’t just about enjoying the beauty of the garden; they’re about creating meaningful connections with the natural world.

Oxford itself is the perfect backdrop for these events, thanks to its rich educational heritage. With the city’s prestigious universities nearby, it’s no surprise that students are encouraged to visit the garden to deepen their learning. The Oxford Botanic Garden isn’t just a pretty place – it’s a living classroom, that invites everyone to explore and grow.

Preserving Nature’s Treasures for Future Generations

As a leader in plant conservation and biodiversity, the Oxford Botanic Garden actively participates in global conservation initiatives. Through seed banking, research partnerships, and educational outreach, it strives to safeguard endangered plant species and promote sustainable practices for the benefit of future generations.

The Oxford Botanic Garden is not just a beautiful place to admire plant displays and landscapes; it’s also an incredible resource for learning about the biological intricacies of plants and exploring how they’ve evolved. A great place to add to the list to visit.