The Tropics, the Med and old England

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Outdoor Activity
in/near Birmingham, Shropshire (Inc Birmingham),
England Heart Of Inc Birmingham

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Review added: 18/03/2006 02:07
By: dewberry (£0.00 earned from reviews) Earn £££'s

"If you're hunting for somewhere to spend a summer's day in the West Midlands, that both you and the kids will enjoy, look no further than Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Opened back in 1832, this was originally a place for the gentile folk of Edgbaston to soak up the sun and see some green places during a time when both industrial and family housing seemed to be taking over what was once a lush area. According to staff at the Botanical Gardens, it's pretty much the same in 2006 as it was then. The proprietors of the nineteenth century gardens made it their life long work to source as many exotic and semi-exotic plants as possible, leaving us 170 odd years later with a glorious historical collection of 'New World' species; many of which date back to the 1500's.

The gardens are spread over 15 acres, this seems like a huge area to visit and expect to see everything but it's possible. Different areas are clearly signed, with any special displays or exhibitions being well promoted both outside and within the gardens. Also the paths through the grounds are laid out in such a way that you're gently shepherded through the gardens to ensure you see as much as you want to see.

Stepping through the front entrance you've overcome with a sense of peace. Sounds twee I know, but there's a busy road which more or less circles the Botanical Gardens yet from the first glimpse of all the green lushness you can forget the noise of modern Birmingham. The place is just peaceful, I don't know how they did it but somehow the gardens have constructed some kind of sound barrier because I swear once inside you won't hear the traffic from a road which is literally 50 yards away from the garden walls!

Most of the plants are kept and displayed in huge glasshouses, which are all temperature and humidity regulated to the collections requirements. Every single one of these glass houses is a work of art. Plants are displayed in what looks like a random mish mash of leaves and flowers, however once you've read a few of the plaques and information cards dotted around at strategic points you'll see that there is nothing random about this place. Plants which are known to react well together are placed closely, while other plants whose sap is toxic to some of the more delicate flowers are given pride of place at the opposite ends of the massive rooms.

My personal favourite area of the Botanical Gardens is the Tropical House. This, as the name suggests, is a very humid enclosed area. The room itself is huge, the centrepiece being a large tropical pond filled with enormous water lilies and a wide variety of other tropical water plants. Swimming in the pond are some beautifully coloured Koi Carp, looking very happy with their surroundings, while in the shallow end rice plants thrive. A wonderful replica of something I'll probably never see in a natural environment. Other features in the Tropical House are 'economic plants' including coffee, bananas, sugar cane; brief explanations about the importance of such plants are given in an educational manner in layman's terms so even the least green fingered visitors (me!) can understand.

My mum's severely asthmatic and stood the humidity in the Tropical House for roughly twenty seconds before puffing on her inhaler and wandering through to the slightly more lung friendly Sub Tropical House. Again, this room is warm but at least you can breathe without feeling like you're about to suffocate! Such plants as cinnamon, senna and a gorgeous display of palm trees are grown and displayed in this area.

Walking through the Botanical Gardens you'll come across many different glasshouses, all as interesting and damned pretty as each other. If you're looking for prettiness, definitely visit the Mediterranean House. The collection of lemon trees, limes, oranges mix in gorgeously with flowering specimens like the fuchsia and tiny pomegranate plants. Try to see all the glasshouses because they're all different with their own personalities, and it was great to see the kids soaking up the information about the plants and general atmosphere of the places in the world these plants were chosen to represent. I had no idea my seven year old didn't know that sugar was a natural product until we visited here!

While I think the glasshouses are the main attraction, don't forget the gardens. To be honest, you couldn't forget the gardens if you wanted to as every view from the glasshouses is like looking into a country manor garden. Beautifully laid out with perfectly maintained flower beds and the flattest lawn I've ever seen, just strolling through the gardens is relaxing. When we go we usually take a picnic and find a quiet spot to sit, eat and chill for an hour – remembering to take our litter with us as it really would be sacrilege to untidy this place!

Also, in lesser promoted areas of the gardens are secrets. These are the places which people who are rushing miss. A quaint cottage complete with authentic cottage garden; growing herbs, snowdrops, daffodils and all the old favourites. A lawn aviary is slotted along one of the edges of the gardens which is home to doves, pheasants, and even a talking parrot now and again! Peacocks walk freely in this area, so I think it's a good thing that not too many visitors bother coming over here as I'm sure these birds wouldn't be so friendly if they were being bustled by hundreds of pairs of feet.

Staff are fantastic at the Botanical Gardens. I'd say three quarters of them are genuinely enthusiastic about horticulture, literally beaming when you ask a question, while the rest of the staff are simply extremely knowledgeable. On my many visits to the gardens I don't think I've ever encountered a rude or plain stupid employee which is a rarity itself in public attractions. I particularly like the fact that they're not too pompous to address the children, my kids are naturally inquisitive and they've been treated with the same respect as adults would receive when asking questions or commenting on the displays.

The Botanical Gardens also boasts a fantastic, although expensive, shop which caters for everyone from kids spending their pocket money on souvenirs to hardcore gardeners looking for the latest edition of some horticultural book. The gorgeous Pavilion Restaurant serves a wide selection of excellent quality snacks and drinks, but again is expensive although the view through the huge windows of the gardens as you're eating makes the price almost worth paying.

If you live in the Birmingham area, chances are that your kids will have visited the gardens even if you haven't as the Botanical Gardens is part of a city wide school programme. An old building has been transformed into, I'm reliably told as this area isn't open to the public, a special teaching area which primary school pupils use when they visit the gardens for a more in depth look into the history of the plants.

A family ticket to Birmingham Botanical Gardens costs £17, admitting two adults and two children. An individual adult will pay £6 and a child or OAP's admission is £3.50. These prices tend to fluctuate through the year so this is a rough guide as to what you can expect to pay. Disabled access and pushchairs are catered for brilliantly, there are a few steps here and there but from my experience these are easily navigated and staff are always on hand if you get stuck.

The Botanical Gardens is easily found, being signposted from the motorways which go through and around Birmingham. If you're travelling by car (parking is free) you can get on the M6, M40 or M5 and follow the signs. The best bus to get is the 29 from Birmingham City Centre which will drop you practically outside the entrance, or catch a train into Five Ways Station and take a leisurely walk to the gardens.

Westbourne Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
Telephone: 0121 454 1860"

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