Moorbank Botanic Gardens

Moorbank Botanic Garden
Type Botanical Garden
Location Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4NL, UK
Coordinates 54°59′13″N 1°38′06″W / 54.987°N 1.635°W / 54.987; -1.635Coordinates: 54°59′13″N 1°38′06″W / 54.987°N 1.635°W / 54.987; -1.635
Area 3 ha
Opened 1923
Owned by Newcastle University
Operated by Friends of Moorbank Garden
Status Open on certain days (see website)
Website www.ncl.ac.uk/biology/about/facilities/moorbank

The Moorbank Botanic Garden occupies a 3-hectare site in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and was developed from the 1920s as a university botanical garden. Moorbank is leased from the Freemen of Newcastle and is located on Claremont Road to the west of the main Newcastle University campus.

History

The first plants at Moorbank were grown in 1923. The area under cultivation was extended in 1980 using plants from the collection of Randle Cooke, a plant collector from Corbridge, who bequeathed his garden to the university.[1] The glasshouse complex was erected in 1985 and holds collections of tropical and desert plants.

It was announced in 2012 that Newcastle University would be withdrawing its support for the facility as botany was no longer so important in its research profile.[2]

Uses

The glasshouses are divided into cool areas (8–10°C in winter) and warmer areas (min 16°C in winter).[1] They contain plants being used for research.[3] Outside are formal plantings and collections of rhododendron, potentilla and medicinal plants.

Through a volunteer network the garden is opened to the public on certain days via the National Gardens Scheme.[4] The garden has linked with Tyne and Wear Museums to provide environmental workshops for primary schools and is a venue for adult evening classes in painting and photography.[5] In 2012, the garden received Heritage Lottery Fund funding to improve public access to the gardens.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "About Moorbank". Newcastle University Biology. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  2. ↑ Newcastle University botanic garden set to close, The Journal, 17 October 2012
  3. ↑ "Plant collections". Newcastle University Biology. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  4. ↑ "Friends of Moorbank". Newcastle University Biology. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  5. ↑ "Education and Outreach". Newcastle University Biology. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  6. ↑ Newcastle University’s Moorbank botanic garden gets cash boost, The Journal 28 February 2012


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