The Botanic Garden

“The Garden is singularly well-furnished, and the path below the terrace fringed with a wealth of flowering shrubs and aubrietias…Unhappily however, there is no subject to which the camera so steadily refuses to do justice, and this outcome of Mrs Nettlefold’s taste must therefore go unpictured.”

Country life magazine, 1 July 1911

Winterbourne is one of the best surviving examples of an Edwardian Arts and Crafts suburban villa garden in Birmingham. The garden was lovingly created by the homeowners, Margaret and John Nettlefold, using the books of Gertrude Jekyll as guides and inspiration.

When the Nettlefolds left in 1919, two subsequent families called Winterbourne home. The latter, John Nicolson, was an avid gardener and built on the existing foundation with further features such as a Japanese bridge and scree garden. When the University took ownership in 1944 the botanical garden was used for study and relaxation by students, and research by the School of Botany. Today the botanical garden is Grade II listed and offers colour and interest throughout the year. The restored walled garden complete with crinkle-crankle wall, is a riot of rainbow shades from May until October. The lawns are fringed with striking colour themed borders, and beyond lies an original sandstone rock garden and a woodland walk through Gunnera leaves and Rhododendron displays. The botanical garden contains plants from around the globe with collections of plants from China, North and South America and the Alpine areas of the world. The garden offers something for all ages, including activity trails for families and a children’s garden.