Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens facts for kids
The Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens is a special place to visit near the village of Abbotsbury in Dorset, southern England. It is famous for its amazing collection of plants. These gardens are so important that they are listed as Grade I in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
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How the Gardens Started
The Abbotsbury Gardens began a long time ago, in 1765. In the late 1700s, a family called the Fox-Strangeways (who were also known as the Earls of Ilchester) built a new house there. Sadly, the house burned down in 1913. The family then moved back to their main home at Melbury House. But they kept taking care of the special walled garden at Abbotsbury. The family still owns the gardens today.
Over the years, especially with help from the 4th Earl of Ilchester, the gardens grew a lot. Now, they cover about 8 hectares (which is about 20 acres). They are filled with many unusual and exotic plants. Many of these plants were new discoveries when they were first brought to the gardens!
Exploring the Gardens
The gardens have different areas to explore. You can find formal gardens with neat designs and informal gardens that look more natural. There are also lovely woodland walks and the original walled gardens. Plus, the gardens have special "zones" where you can see plants from different parts of the world. It's like taking a trip around the globe without leaving England!
A Special Place for Plants
The Abbotsbury Gardens are in a hidden valley, surrounded by trees. This valley slopes down towards the sea at Chesil Beach. This special location creates a unique microclimate. A microclimate is like a mini-weather system that is different from the area around it. Because of this, many delicate plants that usually need a greenhouse in southern England can grow outside here.
However, even with this special climate, the plants can still be hurt by very cold winters and frost. In 1990, strong storms damaged many of the rare plants. But don't worry, younger plants have been planted to replace them. In 2010, a talented artist named Matthew Crabb carved a 200-year-old oak tree that had fallen after a bad winter. It's now a beautiful piece of art in the gardens!
Awards and Recognition
The Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens are very well-known. In 2012, they won the Historic Houses Association/Christie’s Garden of the Year award. This was a big deal because it was the first time a subtropical garden had ever won this award!
See also
In Spanish: Jardín Subtropical Abbotsbury para niños
