Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Last updated: 30 December 2018

PlantNetwork member

Address and contact details

1 Brookside, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 1JF

Tel: 01223 336265

Fax: 01223 336278

Email: enquiries@botanic.cam.ac.uk

Web site: www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

Latitude: 52° 11' 46" N

Longitude: 00° 7' 24" E

Background to the collection

Year founded:

1762
(1846 on present site)

Ownership:

University of Cambridge

Garden code:

CGG

Umbrella organisation:

PlantNetwork, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens

Personnel

Director:

Professor Beverley Glover

Curator:

Dr Sam Brockington

Plant Records Officer:

Pete Atkinson

Head of Education:

Felicity Plent

Education Officer:

Dr Judy Fox

Education Officer:

Dr Sally Marsh

Head of Horticulture:

Mrs Sally Petitt

Development Officer:

Mrs Juliet Day

Administration:

Wendy Godfrey

Contact person:

Pete Atkinson

Total Staff:

53 or (40 FTE)

Total Horticultural Staff:

Policies

Accessions:

Formal policy in development

Collections:

Formal policy in development

Physical environment

Altitude:

10 m

Soil type:

Riverine silts and sands overlying chalk marl and clay

Aspect:

Mostly flat

Total area:

16 ha

Area heated:

0.5 ha

Other sites of collection:

Free School Lane – Remnant of previous site c.10x3m.

Weather records

Records are kept

Temperature

Average daily:

10.2 °C

Av. monthly max:

23.2 °C (30 year average)

Av. monthly min:

4.2 °C (1971-2000)

Absolute maximum:

36.9 °C (10/08/2003)

Absolute minimum:

-18.1 °C

Wind

Direction:

Southwest

Strength:

Below average

Rainfall

Average annual:

557 mm (30 year average)

Month of maximum:

July-August

Month of minimum:

February-March

Plant collection

Families:

287

Genera:

1,895

Species:

6,770

Taxa:

8,500

Accessions:

12,026

Plants:

14,795

Notable plants within the collection:

14 Champion trees. Maclura pomifera, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Liquidamber orientalis, Pterocarya fraxinifolia, Juglans nigra, Strongylodon macrobotrys, Pinus nigra

Geographical area(s) of specialisation:

Northern Europe, Middle Europe, Southwestern Europe, Southeastern Europe, East Europe, Caucasus, Western Asia, Southwestern USA, South-Central USA, Southeastern USA.

Special genera within the collections:

Betula, Carex, Ephedra, Sorbus (British microspecies), Tilia, Alchemilla, Bergenia, Fritillaria, Geranium, Lonicera, Ribes, Ruscus, Saxifraga, Rosmarinus, Lavandula, Tulipa

Special collections:

Saxifraga, Plant Heritage National Plant Collection – 116 taxa
Tulipa, PlantHeritage National Plant Collection – 87 taxa
Lonicera, Plant Heritage National Plant Collection – 106 taxa
Ribes, Plant Heritage National Plant Collection – 38 taxa
Ruscus, Plant Heritage National Plant Collection – 8 taxa
Fritillaria, Plant Heritage National Plant Collection – 103 taxa
Geranium, Plant Heritage National Plant Collection – 170 taxa
Bergenia, Plant Heritage National Plant Collection – 33 taxa
Alchemilla, Plant Heritage National Plant Collection – 37 taxa
Malus, IPGRI – 22 taxa

TARGET 8 SPECIES:

TARGET 8 PROJECT TAXON LIST				UK Red Data List 2005	SAP lead partner	WELSH Red Data List 2008	IRISH Red Data List 1987	IRISH Red Data List 2005	TARGET 8 PROJECT datasheet	Garden(s)
Gentianella anglica Early Gentian	B	W		Wait	UKSAP	VU				Wildlife Trusts Plantlife Cambridge BG
Senecio paludosus Fen Ragwort	B			CR					T8	Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Record Keeping:

Kept since 1879
Computerised

Record System:

IrisBG

Phenological records:

Plant-collecting trips:

International and national

Facilities on site

Herbarium:

Yes. Code CGE in Index Herbariorum, Garden Material

Library:

11 000 items, public access by appointment, Cory Library

Research facilities:

Cory Laboratories (demolished 2008). Experimental glasshouse range in part operated by the Garden. Sainsbury Laboratory Cambridge University is hosted on site and formally opened in April 2011 – see www.slcu.cam.ac.uk. Plant growth facility hosted on site for Department of Plant Sciences.

Publications:

Garden catalogue. Other publications: Visitors Guide (2002), numerous leaflets: Winter walk, dry garden, composting. Special issue of Curtis's Botanical Magazine 23 (Feb 2006).

Identifications:

Internal verification of material

Teaching and Education:

University teaching; Schools programme, primary and secondary, specialist taxonomic courses. Education programme encompassing horticulture, plant identification, arts & crafts, botanical art, basketry.

Interpretation:

Interpretative panels (permanent and temporary); leaflets; guided walks; guide book; map.

Friends Organisation:

Yes

Visitor facilities:

Café (new 2011), gift shop (new 2009).

Access to the collections

Access conditions:

Collections are publicly accessible. To carry out research work or request material, please contact the Director.

Public access:

Admission charge

Visitors per year:

257,758 (2015)

Public opening hours:

The Garden opens daily at 10am. January, November + December: 10am–4pm February, March + October: 10am–5pm April – September: 10am–6pm

Guiding principles behind the collection

(From statement of purpose): The Botanic Gardens holds the research and teaching collection of living plants for the University of Cambridge, a herbarium collection, and the Cory library of horticultural and taxonomic works. Its fundamental purpose is to make these collections accessible for the current generation and to maintain them for future generations.

Location map

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