There has been a glasshouse at the Botanic Garden for over 300 years. The first plan of the garden, produced in 1675, shows the very first glasshouse in Great Britain. This house was built from stone, with a slate roof and small windows – 17th century gardeners did not yet realise that plants needed ample light in order to grow!

Horticulture has moved on since that time and today we are able to grow plants from all over the World within a relatively small area thus enabling visitors to experience fully the diversity of the plant kingdom. In our seven houses plants from dry deserts to tropical rainforests can be seen. Alongside 100 year old cacti and extravagant water lilies grow the plants that give us chocolate, sugar, coconuts, bananas, oranges, medicines and much more, but beware because some of the plants bite!