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The Garden
A garden of global wonders
A stunning seven-and-a-half-acre botanical garden in Birmingham awaits to be explored. From tranquil Japanese-inspired spaces to vibrant seasonal displays, our garden offers an escape from the everyday and a chance to explore plants from around the world.
The wonderful Walled Garden
The Walled Garden would originally have been used solely to grow fresh produce for the Nettlefold family. You can see this history reflected in what we grow here today, with an ambitious variety of fruit and veggies growing all year round. In the summer months, the Walled Garden also bursts into life with flowering perennials, scented roses, and striking dahlias.
Escape the city in our Sandstone Rock Garden
Down by the Sandstone Rock Garden you will find perhaps the most peaceful corner of Winterbourne’s seven-and-a-half acre botanical garden in Birmingham. Many of the Japanese-style features here, including the iconic Japanese Bridge and Tea House, were added by John Nicolson in the 1930s. With sounds of the gently flowing stream, the vibrant colours of the Japanese maples, and the playful stepping stones, this is a true escape from the hustle and bustle of Birmingham.
Travel the world as you wander the garden
Originally designed to be a grand family garden, Winterbourne’s grounds later became the University of Birmingham’s botanical garden. With it being used by the Department of Botany for research and learning throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, new plants from across the world were introduced into the garden. The addition of Geographical Beds, which remain today, transport visitors from Europe to South America, Asia and Australasia.
Find out what’s in bloom this month
The purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) brings height to the wildflower meadow, standing over a meter tall. Its willowy leaves. The stems of vibrant purple flowers provide food for long-tongues insects, including brimstone butterflies, red-tailed bumblebees and elephant hawk-moths.
Devil’s bit scabious (Succisa pratensis) blooms beautifully in our wildflower meadow from July through to early autumn. Will introduced these purple pincushion-like wildflowers to bring colour and texture later in the season.
The moisture-loving marsh woundwort (Stachys palustris) is the perfect addition to our stream lawn wildflower meadow. Native to the UK, the aromatic plant actually belongs to the mint family and was once used in herbal medicine. In our wildflower, however, it helps to provide vital nutrients for pollinating insects.
