Moorbank Botanic Gardens threatened with closure

Noooooooooo!
I only just found it...

This week the Journal reported that Moorbank Botanic Gardens is to close. Newcastle University are pulling the plug on this little green oasis in the City.

Who knew there was a tropical paradise on the edge of the moor at the top of Claremont Road? Not me, that's for sure, & I used to work on Claremont Road. I must've driven past its gates a thousand times.

But I was given a heads up earlier this Summer when I went to an open evening a Moorbank with some green-fingered friends from work, & it was fab.

More about Moorbank

Rather than me mashing up their history, here's the description from the Moorbank Facebook page:

The garden has been used by botanists from the University since 1923.

& the research continues to this day - when we visited, there was an area cordoned off outside that was under test, plus there was what looked like a drought wheat trail in one of the hot houses.

In 1981, the area under cultivation was increased to over 1 hectare to provide a safe haven for rare plants donated to the University from the Kilbryde Garden in Corbridge.

Sadly, it turns out that haven may not be so safe... The plants were collected by Randle Cooke, a very private but dedicated exotic plant expert. He built his collection over 70 years, growing seeds brought back from all over the world by more intrepid plant hunters. The Hexham Courant has a fab article about the Kilbryde rescue which includes a great profile of Cooke.

In 1985, the new glasshouses were acquired to house experimental facilities and collections of tropical, dryland and insectivorous plants.

This part of the visit was amazing: a tropical section & a desert section, both packed with fabulous exotic species. The tropical area has a large collection of carnivorous plants such as this monster:

One of the many pitcher plans in the Tropical House

And to keep the atmosphere moist in the jungle, there's a little pond with trickling stream.

Lots of greenery round the Tropical House's pond

In 2000, the garden was further extended to allow for new developments including a hay meadow, wildlife hedge and Northumberland bed.

Apparently the hedge had a spot of bother recently after neighbouring cows had a bit of a maraud...

Also outside in the grounds is a little lake, although to be fair this Summer it was a little tricky to tell where the lake stopped the lawn started. But the bog plants were loving it.

Gunnera, outdoors by the little lake

Mind, Moorbank seem to be doing a better job at controlling the slugs & snails that the rest of the nation this Summer, as evidenced by the fabulous leaves on their giant hosta.

Huge hosta with impeccable leaves... not that I'm envious... not much...

As much as I love them, I've given up with hostas. Our resident snail population is so vast there's just no point. Instead I'm going to research how to go about harvesting snails for the garlic & butter treatment... I kid you not & you'll be the 1st to know.

A little work for charidee

One to drool, please...

Moorbank isn't normally open to the public, but we got in cos it throws the doors wide from time to time under the banner of the National Gardens Scheme. The Scheme is a fabulous way of getting a glimpse into places & spaces not normally open to the public.

& in a fit of IT fervour not commonly associated with horticulture, the scheme has an iPhone app. Yes really.

Moorbank will be opening it's doors again next year. I think we paid an entrance fee of £3 each. Plus there were tasty cakes & gorgeous little plants for sale. All the proceeds to charity.

Moorbank Open Days 2013

• Sunday 17th March, 1-4pm
• Wednesday 22nd May, 4-7pm with wine
• Sunday 21st July, 2-5pm
• Sunday 8th September, 2-5pm

Visit while you still can, & keep an eye on the Moorbank Facebook page for the latest news...