Type Botanical Garden Owned by Newcastle University Owner Newcastle University | Area 3 ha Phone +44 191 232 8063 Opened 1923 | |
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Location Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4NL, UK Operated by Friends of Moorbank Garden Status Open on certain days (see website) Address Claremont Rd, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4NL, UK Similar Leazes Park, St James' Park, Centre for Life, Pets Corner, Durham University Botanic G | ||
The Moorbank Botanic Garden occupies a 3-hectare site in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and was developed from the 1920s as a university botanical garden. Moorbank is leased from the Freemen of Newcastle and is located on Claremont Road to the west of the main Newcastle University campus.
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History
The first plants at Moorbank were grown in 1923. The area under cultivation was extended in 1980 using plants from the collection of Randle Cooke, a plant collector from Corbridge, who bequeathed his garden to the university. The glasshouse complex was erected in 1985 and holds collections of tropical and desert plants.
It was announced in 2012 that Newcastle University would be withdrawing its support for the facility as botany was no longer so important in its research profile.
Uses
The glasshouses are divided into cool areas (8–10°C in winter) and warmer areas (min 16°C in winter). They contain plants being used for research. Outside are formal plantings and collections of rhododendron, potentilla and medicinal plants.
Through a volunteer network the garden is opened to the public on certain days via the National Gardens Scheme. The garden has linked with Tyne and Wear Museums to provide environmental workshops for primary schools and is a venue for adult evening classes in painting and photography. In 2012, the garden received Heritage Lottery Fund funding to improve public access to the gardens.