UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER BOTANIC GARDENS – GREAT PLANTS AND SCULPTURES TOO!

Do you drive past the Botanic Gardens on the ring road towards Oadby and think “I've never been in there”? If so, this is the time to go in!

The Harold Martin Botanic Gardens have a wealth of plants from all over the world. As well as fantastic herbaceous borders, a formal sunken garden and handsome trees, it has greenhouses containing impressive cacti (look but don't touch!) and temperate and tropical plants. These include important food crops such as bananas, cacao, citrus and occasionally pineapples, and also carnivorous plants such as Venus Flytraps and pitcher plants. There is also a large ornamental pond stocked with enormous Koi carp, and when we visited this time last year it was home to thousands of tiny froglets!

From 27th June to 19th September 2010 they are holding their 9th Annual Sculpture Exhibition. This year the theme is The Heart, Head and Hands. It features 64 major works from 41 sculptors from the UK, Germany and America. In previous years it has included classical marbles, stunning metalworks, ethereal wire creations hanging from trees, contemporary willow structures and fabulous mosaics. Last year there was even a huge water feature made from metal cans resembling four African ladies!

The exhibition is launched on Sunday 27th June with a Family Day and Plant Sale, which includes free children's entertainments, art and crafts and wildlife organisations as well as the open gardens and a huge plant sale. Admission for this day only is £3.50 for adults (children free).

Admission to the gardens is normally free but a donation is appreciated. It is open daily 10am-4pm (Monday to Friday only in winter, from the second weekend in November until March). Access is from Glebe Road.