Sheffield 2020/21
10
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Clarkehouse Road,
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
S10 2LN
0114 268 6001
Sheff ield Botanical
Gardens
Sheffield Botanical Gardens are situated off
Ecclesall Road and feature 5,000 species of plants
set across 19 acres of land. The gardens were
designed by Robert Marnock and first opened in
1836. The most notable feature of the gardens are
the Grade II listed glass pavilions, restored and
reopened in 2003. Other eye-catching features
include the main gateway, the south entrance
lodge and a bear pit. The Sheffield Botanical and
Horticultural Society was formed in 1833 and by
1834 had obtained £7,500 in funding. The money
was raised selling shares, permitting the purchase
of 18 acres of south-facing farmland from the estate
of local snuff manufacturer Joseph Wilson. 12,000
people visited the gardens on their opening in the
Summer of 1836. Sheffield Botanical Gardens
were fortunate to have some of the era’s leading
experts involved in its creation including the
polymath Joseph Paxton of Chatsworth fame and
Robert Marnock who went on to become one of the
leading landscape gardeners of the 19th century.
The gardens hold the national collection of the
genus Sarcococca, Weigela and the closely related
Diervilla. The gardenesque style of design is one
whose main characteristic is that all the trees,
shrubs and plants are positioned and managed in
such a way that each plant can be displayed to its
full potential in scattered planting. The approach
involved the creation of small scale landscapes to
promote beauty, variety and mystery. Many of the
features which distinguished this design style such
as winding paths, dotted island beds, expanses of
grass, and tree-planted mounds, can still be seen.
Today, the restored gardens attract thousands of
visitors annually. They are now established as the
outdoor cultural venue for Sheffield. Check out the
theatre, art and music in the gardens events which
attract a further 30,000 visitors annually.
SHEFFIELD BOTANICAL GARDENS
