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.”
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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.
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