Green Birmingham partnership

The beautiful and hidden gem that is Winterbourne House and Garden, tucked away at the edge of the University of Birmingham's Edgbaston Campus, has been given the honour of being an RHS partner garden for 2016,  https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/gardendetails?gardenid=313

Winterbourne is one the best surviving examples of an Edwardian Arts and Crafts suburban villa, built in 1903 for John and Margaret Nettlefold of Guest, Keen & Nettlefold (GKN) with the design of a small country estate, 

The garden which has attracted the eye of the RHS was given the accolade of Grade II listed status by English Heritage in 2008 and follows the Arts and Crafts style being inspired by the garden designs of Gertrude Jekyll.

The last private owner of the house was John MacDonald Nicolson who bequeathed the house and garden to the University of Birmingham on his death in 1944, http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/nostalgia/birmingham-town-planner-man-behind-9669718

The gardens feature a beautiful walled garden, glasshouses, and original sandstone rock garden as well as over 6,000 plant species from across the globe.

It is a real gem for the city and hides amongst the leafy green suburb of Edgbaston.

The photos below give a few glimpses of the beautiful gardens.

Across Edgbaston, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens have been fundraising for a £1m campaign for repairs and refurbishment of the glasshouses at the 187 year old gardens, http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/business/business-news/botanical-gardens-ball-raises-5000-10768772

The glasshouses have always been a major attraction: the Tropical House was built in 1852 to house the famous tropical water lily, Victoria amazonica; the Subtropical House in 1871 and the present range of Terrace Glasshouses replaced the original conservatory and lean-to houses in 1884. The Tropical House was rebuilt during 1990/91 and the other houses improved and replanted during the major redevelopments carried out in 1986/87. Throughout their history, the Gardens have been important as a centre for social functions in the City, for flower shows, political meetings, festivals of drama and music, wedding receptions, but especially as a place to take the children on day trips. Sunday concerts in the bandstand, built in 1873, remain perennially popular.http://www.birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk/the-gardens-history/

Like Winterbourne, Birmingham Botanical Gardens almost hides amongst the trees in Edgbaston.

The photos below show Birmingham Botanical Gardens.