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Restoring the Gardens
The restoration project
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The restoration of the Gardens was completed in 2005. It was undertaken with the help of a grant of £5.06 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund which was topped up with £1.25 million of 'matched funding' to make the full £6.31 million needed for this huge project. The matched funding was raised through sponsorship and fundraising by volunteers.
The restoration project was a partnership between:
- The Friends of the Botanical Gardens Sheffield
- Sheffield Botanical Gardens Trust
- Sheffield Town Trust
- The University of Sheffield
- Sheffield City Council
The restoration is in keeping with the spirit of the original Victorian layout, but adapting it to modern-day needs. As well as providing a ‘green lung’ in this built-up area and catering for general amenity, the Gardens have outstanding plant collections, making them a centre for horticultural excellence and providing educational opportunities.
Phase One focused on the Gatehouse, the Curator’s House and the South Lodge. These Grade II listed buildings were all derelict. They have been renovated to a high standard and are in use once again.
Phase Two saw the restoration of the Glass Pavilions. Also in very poor condition, the pavilions had long since lost the ‘ridge and furrow’ sections that originally linked the three large domes. The domes themselves had been closed for some years. They have been restored to their former splendour and planted with collections of plants representing the temperate regions of the world.
Phase Three transformed the landscaped areas of the Gardens. A number of distinct areas were created, each reflecting a different type of landscape or botanical theme.
The Garden Areas
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The Four Seasons Garden
Providing a continually changing display all year round.
Birch Hill
A wide variety of different types of Birches have been added to the existing collection and under-planted with masses of spring bulbs.
The Main Lawns
This Grade II listed landscape has been restored to the original ‘Gardenesque’ style, which features curving bed shapes and semi-natural planting arrangements.
The Mediterranean Climate Garden
This area has been transformed into mounds of low-growing plants with gravel paths winding between them. Plants include lavender, rock roses, rosemary and verbascums.
The Rose Garden
The original layout has been reinstated and planted with a wide range of traditional, modern and climbing roses. The roses are underplanted with herbaceous plants.
The Asia Garden
A showcase for trees and shrubs from the Far East and the Himalayas including Rhododendrons, Fuchsias and Callicarpas.
The Evolution Garden
Showing how plants have developed from primitive life forms, ancient plants such as Ginkgo and Dawn Redwood, show how plants have evolved. The fossilised stump of a 300 million year-old lycopod (Club Moss), which would have grown to about 30 metres tall, has been relocated here.
Osborn’s Field
New tender plants and modern cultivars take advantage of this sheltered, sunny location.
The Marnock Garden
Using the theme ‘Ideas to take home’, this area demonstrates new gardening ideas including planting styles, garden features and garden management approaches.
The Rock and Water Garden
New planting enhances the restored ponds, with a particular emphasis on plants that are native to the Peak District.
The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) Border
Featuring plants that have been awarded this Royal Horticultural Society accolade for excellence.
The Woodland Garden
This area has been transformed from a dark and gloomy place into a woodland garden with dappled shade and year-round interest. Planting demonstrates the different canopy layers found in woodland and shows the effects of coppicing ornamental shrubs on the ground flora.
The Prairie Garden
Swathes of meadow plants and grasses established from seed sown in January 2004 give a naturalistic prairie effect, providing a changing display from spring through to autumn.
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