Durham University Botanic Garden

Durham University Botanic Garden is a botanical garden on the university campus that sprawls across wooded terrain with collected plants from different climate zones. The grounds include a tree collection, alpine section, bamboo grove, and multiple glasshouses where tropical and desert plants are cultivated.

The site was founded in 1925 near the university laboratories to gather plants for research and teaching. It later relocated to its present location on Hollingside Lane behind Grey College to provide more space and better conditions for the collections.

The garden serves as a learning space where visitors can explore plant diversity along guided paths and trails. Different sections encourage discovery and help people understand how plants from distant regions thrive together.

The grounds have open areas with marked paths that make it easy to navigate and explore different plant collections on your own. Most paths are accessible, and visitors should wear sturdy footwear, especially when the ground is wet.

The grounds house a living insect collection with stick insects, scorpions, butterflies, and tarantulas that can be seen in the glasshouses. These animals are an important part of the ecosystem within the tropical collections and show how plants and animals coexist.

Inception: 1988

GPS coordinates: 54.76060,-1.57528

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:08