LIVERPOOL’S Botanical Collections and Walled Gardens
LIVERPOOL’S Botanical Collection, one of the oldest in Britain, is to go on show for the first time in more than 20 years.
Visitors will be able to view a significant part of the collection in the glass houses and walled garden of Croxteth Hall and Country Park from Wednesday.
The collection is to play a starring role in next year’s European Capital of Culture programme as the inspiration behind Liverpool Fragrant, a major artistic project led by international visual artist Jyll Bradley.
Established by William Roscoe in 1802, the complete botanical collection has not been on display since 1984.
Approximately one-third of the plants and flowers will now be available to view, including the once world-famous orchid collection.
The rest of the collection will remain in nurseries for the time being, with the intention of reuniting it in a permanent home at some point in the future.
Cllr Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council and deputy chair of the Liverpool Culture Company, said: “Liver-pool’s Botanical Collection is one of the largest in civic hands, and, over the last 200 years, its fortunes have echoed those of the city itself.”
The Fragrant Project will culminate in an artists’ book, documenting the many stories behind the collection and creating a complete archive of its history for the first time.
The first fruits of the project will be showcased on Wednesday, when poets Eleanor Rees and Dinesh Allirajah will give a reading of work inspired by the collection.
IC Liverpool
