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Oxford Botanic Garden

Oxford Botanic Garden, the oldest botanic garden in Britain was built following a donation of money and land from Sir Henry Danvers in 1621. Sir Henry Danvers led a turbulent life. In his youth he and his family were involved in a long running feud with the Long family, which ended with the murder of Henry Long. It is sometimes claimed Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet was partly based on this incident. After fleeing in France he became a senior administrator for Elizabeth the First, James the First, and Charles the First. In his last years Danvers offered land and money in Oxford to build the garden.

The lavish garden walls were finished in 1633, and Oxford Botanic Garden survived in its early years by selling fruit. The emphasis was always on growing plants with medicinal properties, but pleasant surroundings are good for people too, and some plants were grown simply for their appearance. The first curator Jacob Bobart planted many pairs of yew trees in the garden for this reason. In a fitting irony yew trees are now the source of taxotere, a drug used in the treatment of breast, ovarian and cervical cancer. Oscar Wilde, in the 1870s, attended Magdalen College which is just across the road from the Oxford Botanic Garden. In The Portrait of Dorian Gray young Dorian goes into a garden during the painting of his portrait where he settles his nerves by breathing in the scent of lilac blossom. Sir Henry Wotton then observes: "Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul." A botanic garden grows medicinal plants, but is also good for you in simply looking beautiful, like any other garden. There is a black pine tree in the garden, grown from seed sent back from Greece by John Sibthorp in 1790. The tree is so beautiful that JRR Tolkien, who attended Oxford's Exeter College, described it as his favourite tree. Perhaps the black pine inspired the characters of the wise Ents in Lord of the Rings.

Opening Times: March, April, September and October 9am - 5pm. May to August 9am - 6pm. November to February, 9am - 4.30pm. Last admission is 45 minutes prior to closing.

Directions: The Botanic garden is at the eastern end of Oxford High Street, opposite Magdalen College. Click here for an interactive map centred on the Oxford Botanic Garden.

Access: there is wheelchair access to all areas of this level site. Wheelchairs are available on loan. Adapted toilet facilities are provided.

Contact:

telephone: 01865 286690

web site: http://www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk/