London's Oldest Botanical Garden Situated in the heart of London, this 'Secret Garden' is a centre of education, beauty and relaxation.
Chelsea Physic Garden was founded by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London in 1673 for its apprentices to study the medicinal qualities of plants. Throughout the 1700s it was one of the most important centres of botany and plant exchange in the world. It is London’s oldest botanic garden and a unique living museum.
Operating as usual
We are excited to announce that Chelsea Physic Garden is a part of the Groundwork and National Lottery Heritage Fund programme, which is offering 12 month paid traineeships to young people.
You can find out more and apply at: http://ow.ly/NnxZ50MEkgN
Image 1: Jayyidah during her traineeship at Chelsea Physic Garden.
Image 2: School group on Black History Month trail around the Garden. Credit Fikayo Adebajo.
Garden Updates - the Garden team have been busy!
1) The small orange flags indicate that a specimen may have moved or be labelled incorrectly. In spring, bulbous plants start shooting and are visible which allows these indicators to be revised.
2) rose plants have been arched into a beautiful dome-like structure. In addition to creating a living sculpture, this technique helps promote healthy buds to grow.
3) Stones lining beds shift and become buried in time. The stones lining a bed near the Cool Fernery have been dug up and re-placed to maintain the structure of the bed.
Get closer to plants at Chelsea Physic Garden during ‘A Dash of Lavender’, celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month with Q***r Botany (1 - 28 February
On the ‘A Dash of Lavender’ trail, you will find Crocus tommasinianus. Crocus have been a symbol of q***r love for thousands of years. Come during February to find out why.
Book tickets and browse events: https://bit.ly/3Y9QRX0
View Crocus Reel: https://www.instagram.com/p/CoKSGXfAijK/
Open now: A Dash of Lavender garden trail and outdoor exhibitions. Chelsea Physic Garden is celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month with Q***r Botany throughout February, with special events and a Garden trail.
Book now: http://ow.ly/mr8K50MGsSG
+HistoryMonth
'If a tree falls, does it hear sound?' Writing Workshop: As a part of A Dash of Lavender: Celebrating LGBTQ+ history month with Q***r Botany, join LiLi K. Bright for this exciting workshop.
Explore what it might be to experience your environment from a tree’s perspective. Write into new imaginings of q***r interconnectivity, woven ecologies and intuitive communing.
Sunday 12 February, 10am - 12pm.
Book tickets: https://bit.ly/3Y9QRX0.
+ ***rbotany
Get closer to plants at Chelsea Physic Garden during ‘A Dash of Lavender’, celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month with Q***r Botany.
On the ‘A Dash of Lavender’ trail, you will find Xanthoria parietina, which is commonly known as Golden Shield Lichen. Lichens are a partnership between fungi and either algae, cyanobacteria or yeast. Come and find out why it is included on the trail.
Book tickets for February: https://bit.ly/3wCBFWK
Watch the reel here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CoCkarJg2pf/
We are thrilled to launch the Chelsea Physic Garden Podcast! Join hosts Jessica Reagan and Ned Sedgwick as they explore the fascinating world of plants and the impact they have had on history. The first three episodes are all about hibiscus, ginger and orange.
Chelsea Physic Garden has partnered with Belvoir Farm to celebrate their botanical sodas range. A range of three, nature-inspired sodas including Floral Fizz, Bitter Orange Spritz and Spicy Ginger Fizz. Bringing something deliciously different to your usual mixer.
Listen on our website: http://ow.ly/xb5H50MCiiG or wherever you get your podcasts.
A Dash of Lavender: Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month with Q***r Botany (1 February – 28 February 2023)
For LGBTQ+ History Month, Chelsea Physic Garden is collaborating with Q***r Botany to look at plants, fungi and lichen through a q***r lens. As a part of A Dash of Lavender, there will be a trail around the Garden, with installations and outdoor exhibitions. You can enjoy events including drawing workshops, a poetry evening and a panel discussion.
Q***r Botany studies the connections between q***rness and plants through events, storytelling, and design. Since the 1400s and the expansion of western colonial powers, nature and plants have been examined through a predominantly heteronormative, European and male point of view. Q***r Botany aims to share marginalised perspectives and support more diverse representations in the environment and outdoors.
See all events and book tickets here: https://bit.ly/3ZZhtMp.
Heralding Spring is extended to Sunday 29 January. Visit this Sunday to browse the plant sale and explore the Heralding Spring trail.
Book your tickets: https://bit.ly/3BlzJVs
Beautiful Kokedama can be spotted around the Garden. Kokedama is a ball of soil, covered in moss and planted. This practice comes from Japan and allows plants to grow without pots. Kokedama can be hung from above or placed in small dishes.
Spot them in person during Heralding Spring (Sunday 22 January - Sunday 29 January), the start of the Garden’s 350 year anniversary celebrations.
Buy tickets: https://bit.ly/3BlzJVs.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnwcfKYq7uc/
Heralding Spring at the Garden (Sunday 22 January - Sunday 29 January)
Visit this Sunday. Explore the Heralding Spring Trail and browse the Garden's Plant Sale.
Book tickets: https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/visit/opening-times-and-tickets/.
Talk: A Passion for Snowdrops with George G. Brownlee:
We’re very excited to welcome George G. Brownlee for a talk on his book ‘A Passion for Snowdrops: a personal perspective’.
A Q&A will follow with the audience and copies of ‘A Passion for Snowdrops: a personal perspective’ will be available for sale.
This talk is part of our Chelsea Physic Garden’s 350 anniversary year and part of the
Heralding Spring events.
Sunday 22 January, 2.30pm - 3.30pm.
Book tickets at: http://ow.ly/IslN50MtLF5
Family Snowdrop Kokedama workshop: Join our team for a family workshop to create your own kokedama with snowdrops.
A kokedama is a ball of soil, covered in moss and planted. This practice comes from Japan and allows plants to grow without pots.
Part of Heralding Spring, celebrating the beginning of our 350 year anniversary in 2023.
Sunday 22 January, 10am, 12pm, 2pm.
Book tickets at: http://ow.ly/HY1650MtL2m.
Get closer to plants at Chelsea Physic Garden
Hyacinthoides mauritanica is a bulbous geophyte, originating from Morocco and Portugal. Geophytes are perennial plants with underground storage organs such as bulbs or tubers. These storage organs protect buds underground which can survive and grow following adverse weather, which may perish the plant above-ground.
Hyacinthoides are flowering plant family, commonly known as bluebells. Other geophytes include the Narcissus genus which includes daffodils and the Solanum genus which includes potatoes.
Come and find this plant in the Garden from 22 January when we reopen for Heralding Spring. This early-spring celebration is the start of our 350 year anniversary.
Book tickets: https://bit.ly/3BlzJVs.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CneqTeCqGcH/
Get closer to plants at Chelsea Physic Garden
Hyacinthoides aristidis is a bulbous plant which originates from Algeria and Tunisia. It is perennial which is part of the Asparagaceae family. This flowering plant family also includes the Agave and Asparagus genera.
Come and find this plant in the Garden from 22 January when we reopen for Heralding Spring. This early-spring celebration is the start of our 350 year anniversary.
Book tickets: https://bit.ly/3BlzJVs.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnUeWE0KOZ5/
Throughout our 350 anniversary year, the Garden will be focussing on what it means to be ‘A physic garden for the future’. Chelsea Physic Garden will highlight the ongoing importance of plant science to our understanding of climate change and biodiversity, drawing on the Garden’s own experiences as a unique microclimate.
We will also explore the life of plants under glass and the role of plant science in the future of food and medicines as the Garden celebrates the re-opening of our historic glasshouses in September as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund Glasshouse Restoration Project.
London’s oldest botanic garden is marking its 350-year anniversary in 2023, using its past to create a vision for its future. Across the year Chelsea Physic Garden will explore three key themes: ‘Horticulture for humankind’, ‘Unlocking our collections’ and ‘A physic garden for the future’. Look out for new and exciting events coming up in 2023, including a Spring Open Day, Summer Festival and gardening skills workshops.
Read more at: http://ow.ly/GMUr50MjfYa.
This year, for our 350 year anniversary, the Garden will be ‘Unlocking our collections’ by sharing new research and stories about the plant collection and people in our history. With 350 years of history to explore, we will shed light on previously untold stories about the plants in our collection and the people who have shaped what the Garden is today.
A highlight is February's A Dash of Lavender: Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month with ***rBotany and embracing International Women’s Day throughout March with a series of events that show the contributions made by women past, present and future.
London’s oldest botanic garden is marking its 350 year anniversary in 2023, using its past to create a vision for its future. Across the year Chelsea Physic Garden will explore three key themes: ‘Horticulture for humankind’, ‘Unlocking our collections’ and ‘A physic garden for the future’. Look out for the next post about ‘A physic garden for the future’.
Read more at: http://ow.ly/hR6950Mk4vx.
Chelsea Physic Garden has always championed the role that plants play in human life. As part of our 350 year anniversary we will be exploring the theme of ‘Horticulture for humankind’ in new and exciting ways.
We will be celebrating the role of plants and their benefits for humans with talks, tours and panel discussions. Themes include the medicinal properties of plants and the mental health benefits of nature and gardening. The Garden will highlight how this relationship has changed over time and question how humans will benefit from horticulture in the future.
London’s oldest botanic garden is marking its 350-year anniversary in 2023, using its past to create a vision for its future. Across the year Chelsea Physic Garden will explore three key themes: ‘Horticulture for humankind’, ‘Unlocking our collections’ and ‘A physic garden for the future’. Look out for the next post about ‘Unlocking our collections’.
Read more on our website: http://ow.ly/rKyF50Mj9RY.
Get closer to plants at Chelsea Physic Garden
Erysimum bicolor is an evergreen perennial subshrub originating from Madeira. The diverse Erysimum genus, commonly referred to as ‘wallflowers’, belong to the family Brassicaceae. This family also includes Armoracia rusticana commonly known as horseradish and Brassica genus, for example Brassica oleracea - cabbage.
The Garden’s specimen has started to produce its lilac and white flowers. Each flowering plant in the Brassicaceae family produces flowers each with four petals. Most of these are accompanied by four sepals and six stamens.
See this plant in person from 22 January when the Garden reopens for Heralding Spring, as part of our 350 year anniversary celebrations.
Book tickets: https://bit.ly/3BlzJVs.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnCZbCIKMC6/
Happy New Year! 2023 marks Chelsea Physic Garden's 350 year anniversary. We will be celebrating with special events, talks, workshops, panel discussions, and much more!
Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter to keep up to date: http://ow.ly/SHLL50MbwO0.
#2023
Seasons greetings to our followers from everyone at Chelsea Physic Garden. Thank you all for your support this year.
We look forward to sharing more of the Garden with you all in 2023, in which we will be celebrating our 350 year anniversary. We will be ‘Unlocking our collections’, exploring ‘Horticulture for humankind’ and looking at what it means to be ‘A physic garden of the future’.
Look out for lots of new and exciting events in the New Year!
Find out more at: http://ow.ly/I7uU50MaqWn.
66 Royal Hospital Road
London
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We are very happy to announce that this year’s Christmas Fair will be decorated with living Christmas trees kindly supplied by our supporters Capital Gardens In an attempt to minimise our impact on the environment we are using potted Christmas trees and are decorating them in sustainable decorations. Capital Gardens will be returning to Burton Court in Chelsea this Christmas with a fantastic variety of pot grown and cut Christmas trees. The cut trees have been lovingly grown in the UK and come in a variety of sizes and prices to fit every home. A selection of wreaths, garlands, decorations, lights and stands will also be available. From each sale, £1 will be donated to the The Chelsea Pensioners. They will be open 26 November - 22 December, Monday to Saturday, 8.30am - 6.30pm (Sunday until 5.30pm). For more information go to www.capitalgardens.co.uk/store-locations/burton-court. #Christmas #festiveseason #ChelseaPhysicGardenChristmasFair #Christmasfair #fair #Christmasshopping #shopping #botanicgarden #gardens #botany #horticulture #Londongardens #Londonevents #Christmasevents #LondonChristmas #ChelseaPhysicGarden #London #Chelsea #Burtoncourt #SW3
After a sell-out launch earlier this month, our midweek musical extravaganza 'The Lawn Sessions' returns on Tuesday 1 September! We are thrilled to present a range of performances from some of London's best emerging talent - including Duncan Berrington, Rosie Holloway and TATYANA - with all profits from these fundraising events directly supporting the charitable work of the Garden. It's selling out quickly. Book your ticket by clicking here https://bit.ly/34Jmm1I
15 minutes from Clapham or Fulham 20 minutes from Brixton 30 minutes from Shoreditch or Peckham Get on your bike and make a day of it at the Garden! Book your ticket now https://bit.ly/2FrFyGB
Busy bees hopping around Hypericum in the Dicotyledon Order Beds, behind the kiosk 🐝🏵️🌼
We'll be keeping you up to date with everything that's happening in the Garden throughout the season 🌱 Here's Allison and Nell to take you through why we use nematodes in our Propagation House 💚
We had a very cheeky visitor to the Pond Rockery today...
We hope this snapshot from the Garden brings you some relief from the news, particularly if you are feeling anxious. 🌿
Alice "Sloane" gives an account of her "husband's" "murder" to "investigators" as part of Imperial College London's med students' 'alternative' tours, running in the Garden today.
Thrilled to present a short film about our summer exhibition 'The Art and Healing Power of Plants' in partnership with Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society.
We love bees so much, we're dedicating an entire day to our pollinating pals 🐝 Join us and The World Bee Project this Sunday 14th July for a Bees and Flowers day packed with activities, talks and tastings https://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/bees-flowers-day-the-world-bee-project-2019
Right on cue for the Summer Solstice, the sun is beaming down on Chelsea Physic Garden
It’s a (Ahem) busy time in the pond today ...
Fortune's Tank is positively brimming with life! 🐸
treat yourself and learn skills at one of our workshops
Still a few places left on our our Bee Friendly course next Wednesday. This little one would sure like to see you there 🐝 Book here https://bit.ly/2ICvLti
Bumped into the apiarist at the Filipendula vulgaris and now know more about bee love than I ever really wanted to... Thankfully, there were bees around to distract him 🐝🍯🥀
A Summers day at the Chelsea Physic Garden showcasing our current exhibition 'An Elixir of Letters' in partnership with The Lettering Arts Trust. Get yourself a cup of tea, turn up the sound and enjoy the Garden.
Hot chocolate anyone ?
Enjoy a moment of calm. The gentle breeze in the branches of our majestic Umbellularia California.
Our Gardening team are kept busy with over 5,000 plants in our collection! Here’s Takuya, cleaning and sorting pots...
Today on #RemembranceSunday we remember all of the veterans who lost their lives in service to their nation. The Garden was affected by WWI & WWII. Many of the men working at the Garden left for service and women substituted for men, as they did throughout the country. In 1918 war poet, Wilfred Owen, spent one of his last afternoons in England at the Garden. He soon returned to Flanders where he would tragically die three months later, just one week before the signing of the Armistice, which ended the war. He’s remembered to have spent a happy summer afternoon at the Garden. #RemembranceSunday #ArmisticeDay #LestWeForget
Ahead of Judith Hann's upcoming #Suppertalk, we're giving away 5 signed copies of her new book 'Herbs' With Nourish. Please share this post for your chance to win! Here's a taster with Judith giving some top tips on growing your own herb garden. Get your tickets for the talk here: http://bit.ly/2sXsYUW
Bees 🐝 enjoying our poppies this morning (Papaver triniifolium, native to Turkey and Iran)
Our Plant Records Manager Lucy captured this charming video of a baby robin learning to fly in one of the Garden's Glasshouses. The flight feathers are the last to grow on a robin chick, and when they fledge 14 days after hatching they are not yet able to fly. The young will continue to be looked after by their parents for up to 3 weeks after fledging, this is often left to the male as the female will be preparing herself for the next brood! It has been known for robins to have up to 4 broods in one year.
An overview of the wonderful work that takes place at the Garden, introduced by Director & Curator Sue Medway and featuring the Gardeners, Education Team and the staff and volunteers who do so much to support the Garden's work.
Museum of Domestic Design & Architecture
Boulevard Drive
London Museum of Water & Steam
Green Dragon Lane
The Last Tuesday Society & The Viktor Wynd Mu
Mare Street
The Royal Air Force Museum London
Grahame Park Way