Hops
Hops are used in beer-making for the bitter taste, flavour stability and retention of the foamy head on top.
In a beautiful and symbolic transformation, we've turned what was once a barren landscape into our striking contemporary Outdoor Gardens. Across the vast slopes of the former clay mine, we present cultivated and wild landscapes and explore our dependence on both.
The Gardens are home to over 20 plant-based exhibits, colourful seasonal borders, art installations and play areas. The Wild Edge area displays the world’s temperate lands while the Crops area introduces plants for food, fuels, medicines and materials. There are gardens for play, creativity, fruit, veg, flowers, health and wellbeing. Our growing Climate Garden takes you through 400 million years and explores possible positive futures.
Swathes of wildflowers are welcome sight in the summer.
An exuberant display of dahlias can be found on the approach to the Biomes.
A recent addition to the Outdoor Gardens: the South African Garden.
Bees love buzzing around this huge bed of lavender in our Outdoor Gardens.
You can see a delicious range of vegetables growing in the Sense of Taste Garden.
Get new veg ideas from across the world in our Global Gardens allotment.
Bombus the Giant Bee was created by Robert Bradford as a reminder of the importance of insect pollinators to us humans.
You can find Eve, made by Peter and Sue Hill, reclining in the Myth and Folklore Garden.
Chris Drury's Cloud Chamber sits in the Wild Cornwall area, high on the slopes of our Outdoor Gardens.
Don't miss the Japanese swale tucked behind the Core building, especially in the autumn.