Come in from the cold and head to the tropics

A snowdrop Mark Bolton

Press release issued: 23 December 2008

The University of Bristol’s Botanic Garden will be open to visitors for special ‘open Sundays’ throughout the winter.

Ever wanted to visit the Amazon rainforest without leaving Bristol? The University of Bristol’s Botanic Garden is offering visitors the opportunity during special ‘open Sundays’ throughout the winter.

Members of the public will have the chance to visit the Garden’s glasshouses and be taken to the Amazon rainforest, the Highveld in South Africa, the world’s cloud forests and a magical world of tropical food and medicinal plants.

The first special Sunday opening will take place on 4 January between 11 am to 3 pm.

Subsequent openings will take place on:

Sunday 8 February, 11 am to 3.30 pm;
Sunday 1 March, 10.30 am to 3.30 pm;
Sunday 29 March, 10.30 am to 4 pm.

There will be a tour of the Garden at 11 am, where members of the public will have the opportunity to hear updates of new developments and learn about plants of seasonal interest. Tours are free to Friends of the Botanic Garden, non-friends will be asked to make a donation.

Nick Wray, Botanic Garden Curator, said: “This is a great opportunity to see and learn about some extraordinarily rare and unique plants that grow worldwide. We look forward to welcoming everyone to our special Sunday openings.”

The Garden will be closed from Wednesday 24 December 2008 to Friday 2 January 2009 inclusive. The full 2009 season will open on Good Friday, 10 April.

The University of Bristol’s Botanic Garden is at The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS8 1JB, tel (0117) 331 4912.

Further information

The University of Bristol Botanic Garden at the Holmes is open to the public during the winter months on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 am to 4 pm. Leaflets will be available, and donations from non-Friends requested, as the Welcome Lodge will be closed.

Directions to The Holmes: From the city centre go to the top of Whiteladies Road, at the junction and traffic lights go straight ahead across Durdham Down towards Stoke Bishop. At the traffic lights go straight ahead and take the first turning on the right into Stoke Park Road, The Holmes is 150 m on the right.

Please contact Joanne Fryer for further information.