The Marnock Garden

This sheltered, south-facing area was named the Robert Marnock Garden in 1988, after the original creator of the Botanical Gardens. It showcases plants and designs suitable for smaller gardens, in contrast to the grand trees and long vistas of the main Gardens.

 

Before it was donated to the Botanical Gardens in 1944 by the Osborn family, this area had been let out as an allotment. It was incorporated into the Gardens and used to grow vegetables before it became a trials garden during the 1970s and 80s.

It, now, features a number of beautiful ornamental trees and a scree bed displaying spring bulbs, especially species tulips and allium varieties, assorted helianthemum spp, a variety of penstemon cultivars, and many other rock and scree plants which give colour and beauty all year. At the far end is a feature constructed using tufa rock.

    • Anthea, the sculpture of a giant leaf cutter ant, was created by Johnny White in 2008. The stainless steel spikes are made from rejected hip joints, found in a scrapyard in the Attercliffe area of Sheffield.

    • The green-roofed circular bench on the far side of the garden was made by local company, Handspring Design. It’s popular with school groups and picnickers.

    • The unusual gates to the garden were designed by Arthur Drought, a founder member of FOBS, and added in 1994.

  • Albizia julibrissin Tropical Dream August 2018

  • Anthea the ant-eater sculpture June 2015

  • Eucalyptus globulus December 2021

  • Eucalyptus March 2022

  • Japanese maple

  • Scree Garden May 2020

  • Shelter June 2015