World Woodland Garden opens
by Alice Wright
Copyright Toby Glanville
The World Woodland Garden will open at Chelsea Physic Garden tomorrow, celebrating forest environments around the world and the useful plants they produce.
The new garden is divided into three sections representing three geographic regions - Americas, Europe and East Asia. Each section will demonstrate the traditional and modern uses of various forest species, including trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and bulbs.
The World Woodland Garden will include 150 new plants, adding to Chelsea Physic Garden’s collection. A serpentine path will guide visitors through the new plantings and an oak pergola to the south of the World Woodland Garden will link it to an existing wooded area, creating a half-acre micro-forest.
In addition, 15 wild species of Galanthus will be woven through the planting to enrich the Physic Garden’s existing snowdrop collection.
Situated in the heart of London, Chelsea Physic Garden has a unique living collection of around 5,000 different edible, useful, medicinal and historical plants. It is the oldest botanic garden in London and was founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries for the purpose of training apprentices in identifying plants.
The garden is open from April 1 to October 31. Opening times are Tuesday to Friday and Sunday/Bank Holidays, 11am-6pm.