Ventnor Botanic Garden

One of my favourite gardens on the Isle of Wight is the Ventnor Botanic Garden. The garden is starting to wake up to spring with the first burst of colour coming from the enormous and beautiful magnolias. In full bloom, these towering trees can be seen from the car park enticing in the visitors.

Quote from Ventnor Botanic Garden website:
”Many would believe that the life of a Botanic garden peaks and troughs throughout the winter as the seasons change and the weather gets colder. However, Ventnor Botanic Garden differs greatly from gardens found on mainland England- we have our very own “mirco-climate” here along the “Undercliff” just west of Ventnor.

Being south-facing, and so close to the sea, frost rarely settles in Ventnor Botanic Garden, meaning we can grow many plants year round that so many other gardens simply don’t have the climate for. To give you an indication of just how much there is to see this time of year, the 2022 New Year’s Day flower count stood at over 200- meaning more than 200 taxa were in flower in depths of winter.”

Ventnor Botanic Gardens exists on the site of the Royal National Hospital for Diseases of the Chest (mainly tuberculosis). The location chosen because of the mild climate. Founded by Arthur Hill Hassall, designed by local architect Thomas Hellyer and opened in 1869 as the National Cottage Hospital for Consumption and Diseases of the Chest, it offered 130 separate south-facing bedrooms for its patients. The hospital closed in 1964, made obsolete by drug treatment of tuberculosis, and was demolished in 1969.

Note: Parking is free if you are visiting the gardens, however, if visiting Steephill Cove, a charge of £5 for the day.

Magnificent Magnolias, currently in bloom ( 20March 2022)

Click for more lovely photos taken this year and last year in these wonderful gardens.