Ventnor botanic gardens

Undercliff Drive, Ventnor. PO38 1UL (view map)
Telephone: 01983 855397
Website: www.botanic.co.uk

Open: All year daily 10am - 6pm. Closed from Dec 20th to Jan 2nd.
Admission: Free. Charge for car parking. Small charge to enter green house.

Ventnor Botanic Gardens has been developed on the site of the former Royal National Chest Hospital. Extending over 22 acres, the garden was originally opened in 1972. However, it was all but destroyed by the infamous storm of October 1987. The clear up operation took nearly 2 years and much of the garden that you see today has been created over the past decade.

The Garden takes advantage of the microclimate produced as a result of the protection afforded by the topography of the Undercliff, the moderating influence of the sea, and its southerly aspect. This allows for a wide variety of species to be grown, many too tender for the prevailing winter conditions elsewhere in the UK.

The Garden is laid out along a valley that runs east to west, parallel to the sea cliffs. The plantings are thematic and thus a walk around the garden encompasses a wide range of plants. From geographical groupings like the Mediterranean, New Zealand and American collections, to stylised gardens like the sub-tropical garden an the mixed borders. Plants with obvious uses such as culinary and medicinal are also to be found along with areasof informal mixed shrubberrys and native flora. The gardens are ever changing and new features are regularly added.

The Temperate house built in 1986 is undergoing a replanting programme, but remains open. A developing plant sales area is to be found here also, many of the plants are unusual and are raised from the garden stock, thus being representative of the gardens.

There is a visitor centre which opened it's doors in 2000. Within the centre visitors will find two exhibition areas, a seminar room and a reference library.Upon entering the visitor centre, the first of the exhibition spaces presents an exciting interactive display called 'The Green Plant - The incredible life of plants', a look at the evolution of plants and the inextricable link that we have with them.

There is also a cafe and gift shop at the visitor centre, and a children's play area and a picnic site which all add to the attractions of the garden.