BELFAST BOTANIC GARDENS DECEMBER 2025
MY DECEMBER 2025 VISITS TO THE BOTANIC GARDENS IN BELFAST [ACCESS WAS LIMITED BECAUSE OF EXTREME WEATHER]
My visits to Belfast in May and December 2025 provided two starkly different perspectives of the Botanic Gardens. Ironically, while my December visit was hampered by the fierce winds of Storm Bram, the conditions in May were similarly bleak, though notably calmer.
In December I visited twice but had cut short my visit on the first as access was limited because of flooding. On the second day the weather was not much better,
Established in 1828, the Belfast Botanic Gardens is a cornerstone of the city’s Victorian heritage. Located in the Queen’s Quarter, the 28-acre site was originally a private garden before opening to the public in 1895. Today, it serves as a vibrant social hub and a premier horticultural site, situated right next to Queen's University and the Ulster Museum.
The Palm House: One of the world's earliest examples of a curvilinear glasshouse made from cast iron and glass. Designed by Sir Charles Lanyon and built by Richard Turner (who later worked on Kew Gardens), it features a "Cool Wing" with seasonal displays and a "Tropical Wing" housing exotic species and a 400-year-old Xanthorrhoea.
The Tropical Ravine: Built in 1889 and recently underwent a multi-million-pound restoration. It features a unique sunken glen that visitors view from a raised balcony. It contains some of the oldest seed plants on Earth, as well as banana, cinnamon, and orchid collections.
The Rose Garden: Established in 1932, this popular area features a vast collection of large-flowered and cluster-flowered roses that reach their peak in the summer months.
Herbaceous Borders: The gardens boast some of the longest herbaceous borders in the UK and Ireland, providing a spectacular, colourful display during the flowering season.
The Arboretum & Rockery: The grounds are home to a diverse collection of mature trees, including rare oaks planted in the 1880s, and a well-maintained rockery area.
Lord Kelvin Statue: A prominent bronze statue of the Belfast-born physicist stands at the main Stranmillis Road entrance, greeting visitors as they enter from the university side.
My visits to Belfast in May and December 2025 provided two starkly different perspectives of the Botanic Gardens. Ironically, while my December visit was hampered by the fierce winds of Storm Bram, the conditions in May were similarly bleak, though notably calmer.
In December I visited twice but had cut short my visit on the first as access was limited because of flooding. On the second day the weather was not much better,
Established in 1828, the Belfast Botanic Gardens is a cornerstone of the city’s Victorian heritage. Located in the Queen’s Quarter, the 28-acre site was originally a private garden before opening to the public in 1895. Today, it serves as a vibrant social hub and a premier horticultural site, situated right next to Queen's University and the Ulster Museum.
The Palm House: One of the world's earliest examples of a curvilinear glasshouse made from cast iron and glass. Designed by Sir Charles Lanyon and built by Richard Turner (who later worked on Kew Gardens), it features a "Cool Wing" with seasonal displays and a "Tropical Wing" housing exotic species and a 400-year-old Xanthorrhoea.
The Tropical Ravine: Built in 1889 and recently underwent a multi-million-pound restoration. It features a unique sunken glen that visitors view from a raised balcony. It contains some of the oldest seed plants on Earth, as well as banana, cinnamon, and orchid collections.
The Rose Garden: Established in 1932, this popular area features a vast collection of large-flowered and cluster-flowered roses that reach their peak in the summer months.
Herbaceous Borders: The gardens boast some of the longest herbaceous borders in the UK and Ireland, providing a spectacular, colourful display during the flowering season.
The Arboretum & Rockery: The grounds are home to a diverse collection of mature trees, including rare oaks planted in the 1880s, and a well-maintained rockery area.
Lord Kelvin Statue: A prominent bronze statue of the Belfast-born physicist stands at the main Stranmillis Road entrance, greeting visitors as they enter from the university side.
BELFAST BOTANIC GARDENS