UK Public Gardens

I have visited and filmed several public gardens around the UK for Freya's Tropical Garden and provided information about the gardens and some of the plants that you will find growing there.

RHS Wisley

The RHS's Flagship garden, Wisley, is located in Surrey near Woking and is the second most visited public garden in the UK. Boasting 240 acres of stunning outdoor gardens visitors can explore the many features of this garden which include an exotic garden, arboretum, a walled garden, rose borders and a magnificent glasshouse for the more tender plants. The glasshouse is divided into temperate and tropical zones, with a smaller Orchid house to display the impressive orchid collection. In fact there is so much to see in Wisley I have produced a series of four videos, each focused on a different area of the garden; the outdoor gardens, the tropical glasshouse and orchid house, the moist temperate zone and dry temperate zone and the exotic garden. In addition, I visited the garden in Winter to film hardy tropical evergreen plants!

Welcome to RHS Wisley, the Outdoor Gardens

The Tropical Glasshouse and Orchid House

The Moist Temperate Zone and the Dry Temperate Zone

The Exotic Garden

One of the best ways to get inspiration for hardy tropical plants that will look good even during the bleak winter months is to visit local gardens near you, in the colder parts of the year, to see which plants they are able to grow outdoors. In this video we look at the Exotic Garden in RHS Wisley in January, for some hardy, evergreen, tropical plant inspiration!

The Eden Project

Situated near St Austell in Cornwall, The Eden Project features two huge biomes which house the largest indoor Rainforest in the world and a beautiful Mediterranean garden.

The Eden Project was built in a disused china clay quarry and houses thousands of different plant species with a focus on ecological and environmental issues. Many of the plants grown both inside and outside the biomes have medicinal use or are edible as it attempts to educate visitors and remind us of the importance of our relationship with the natural world around us.

Part 1: The Mediterranean Biome

Part 2: The Rainforest Biome

Part 3: The Rainforest Biome continued

Part 4: The Rainforest Biome (final part)

Sky Garden

Sky Garden in London is situated at the top of the sky scraper known as the Walkie Talkie. It is London's highest public garden and entrance is free, although you may need to book in advance to avoid disappointment. The beautifully landscaped gardens are packed with tropical plants and you can also enjoy spectacular views of the city from the observation deck.

Battersea Subtropical Garden

Battersea Subtropical Garden was created in Battersea Park, London, in 1863 and was the first public Subtropical garden in the UK. The plants here stay outdoors all year round, although some are protected with fleece and straw, so it is a great garden to visit to get an idea which plants you can grow outdoors if it is near you.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

The Lost Gardens of Heligan is a Grade II listed garden situated near St Austell in Cornwall, featuring a superb Jungle garden with tree ferns, palm trees, giant gunnera and even a Burma Rope Bridge . The gardens were restored in the 1990's after being neglected during the First World War. My trip to The Lost Gardens of Heligan is documented in two parts.

Trebah Garden

Trebah Garden is situated near Falmouth in Cornwall and is a subtropical treasure, benefitting from a microclimate that allows them to grow plants not often seen even in other areas of Cornwall. The spectacular garden features winding paths taking you through different areas of the garden, including a large collection of established bamboos, down to a private beach where you can get an ice cream. My trip to Trebah is covered in a 2 part video series.

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