Welcome to the Botanic Garden
Durham University's 10 hectare Botanic Garden is set amongst beautiful mature woodlands on the southern outskirts of Durham city. Open to the public, the Botanic Garden offers a wide variety of landscapes to explore and discover, with guests young and old visiting throughout the year.
Fabulous Flowers
Pick up a spotter sheet from the Visitor Centre and see what Fabulous Flowers you can discover in the Garden. This is a self-led activity, and subject to availability of spotter sheets.
News
The garden is looking like summer now that all the spring bulbs have finished and we have our tubs of Geraniums, Begonias, Dahlias and other summer bedding taking their place. The rainforest section in the greenhouse is lush with growth now the days are long, and occasionally sunny! The giant water lily is huge and it's leaves over a meter across and it is flowering occasionally.
The garden has a completely different feel now the leaves are on the trees and some of the open views have gone, so it’s great to explore and see whats hiding round each hidden corner. The giant “Rhubarb” like plant, Gunnera manicata in the woodland garden (map no20) is certainly enjoying the excessive rain we have had recently. Trilliums, Blue poppies (Meconopsis) and shooting stars (Dodecatheon) are still flowering there but will fade by the summer as that part of the garden plunges into deep shade. There are some great primula’s too, the Japanese Primula pulverulenta is a favourite and as it fades is followed by the giant Himalayan cowslip, Primula florindae. This grows really well in the damp moist conditions and often fills the garden with scent when conditions are right.
Graeme Hopper, who made “the Millennium bug” has been commissioned by the Friends of the Garden to create an impressive new entrance to the native woodland section of the garden, giant metal mushrooms! (map no33).
We have a new part of the garden too, still very much in its creative phase. We have been working with colleagues from our Biological Science department to show you some of research they are currently working on. This new garden and work in progress can be found between the conifer lawn and the Oriental collection. (Map no16)
The Botanic Garden is open:
10am to 5pm from 1st March to 31st October
10am to 4pm from 1st November to end of February (closed between Christmas and New Year).
We are open on Bank Holidays and Easter Sunday.
| Adults | £4.00 | |
| Concession | £3.00 | |
| Students/Children (over 5) | £1.50 | |
| Infants | Free | |
|
Carers |
Free | |
| Durham University Campus Card holders | Free |
FUN FOR FAMILIES
From a day out in the fresh air, to Christmas craft activities in our glasshouses, the Botanic Garden offers a variety of activity to keep kids entertained throughout the year.
4SCHOOLS
Book a visit to Durham University Botanic Garden with the 4schools team to explore the Garden and discover more about its fascinating plant-life and natural areas.
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