National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh |
|
|---|---|
| Garraithe Náisiúnta na Lus Cill Mochura | |
 |
|
| Type | Botanic Garden |
| Location | Kilmacurragh, Wicklow |
| Area | 21.04 ha (52.0 acres) |
| Created | 1712 |
| Operated by | Office of Public Works |
| Status | Open all year |
| Website | www.botanicgardens.ie/kilmacurragh |
The National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh (Irish: Garraithe Náisiúnta na Lus, Cill Mochura) is a beautiful garden and arboretum in County Wicklow, Ireland. It's like a sister garden to the main National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, County Dublin. These gardens cover about 52 acres (that's like 39 football fields!).
The gardens started way back in 1712 as part of the Acton family's big estate. They owned the land until 1940. Now, the Irish government owns and looks after the gardens through the Office of Public Works. They took over in 1976, and the National Botanic Gardens started managing them daily in 1996.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The story of Kilmacurragh is very old. It goes back even before the gardens were made. Long ago, there was a monastery where the Acton family home now stands. A lake nearby was used for fishing by the monks. This monastery was later closed down by King Henry VII.
The Acton Family's Vision
The gardens really began thanks to Thomas Acton and his sister Jane Acton. They loved plants and wanted to collect rare ones. They joined plant hunting trips and made friends with people at other botanical gardens. This helped them get exotic seeds from all over the world.
The gardens became a special part of their home, a rare Irish Queen Anne style house. It was a showpiece for their amazing plant collection.
A Home for Rare Plants
A friendship between the Actons and David Moore, the curator of the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, was very important. This led to Kilmacurragh becoming the main home for Ireland's collection of Rhododendron plants.
Kilmacurragh has special conditions that help many plants grow. Its soil is acidic and brown, it doesn't get too much rain, and the winters are mild. Because of this, many plant species that struggled in Glasnevin thrived here. Some plants in these gardens are so rare that they might be the only ones of their kind in Europe or even the whole Northern Hemisphere!
Amazing Rare Species
Some of the incredibly rare plants you can find here include:
- Monkey puzzle trees (these are endangered!)
- Chilean Laurel
- Tiger-tailed spruce
- Wellingtonia tree
- Campbell's magnolia
- Mexican cypress
The Gardens' Journey to Today
The Acton family house was left empty in the 1920s. Later, it was run as a hotel called Kilmacurragh Park Hotel. After some disagreements about who owned the land, the gardens were left uncared for. Finally, the Irish state bought them in 1976 to protect this special place.
What You Can Find Here
Kilmacurragh has some great things for visitors.
Actons Café
A lovely café called Actons opened in 2015. It's in one of the old courtyard buildings that have been fixed up. It's a great spot to relax and have a snack.
Guided Tours
During the warmer summer months, you can join free guided tours. These tours are led by the team who work hard to restore and replant the gardens. They can tell you all about the plants and the history of this amazing place.
Images for kids
-
The remains of the Acton family home in National Botanic Gardens Kilmacurragh
-
A mature monkey puzzle tree in the gardens.
-
A map of Kilmacurragh National Botanic Gardens.
