Thanks to Dr Ken Thompson for a thought-provoking and highly entertaining lecture on the myths and emotions behind our classification of plants and animals as ‘native’ or ‘alien.’ A recording of the lecture is now available to view on the password-protected Friends Area of the website.

Our next online lecture is by Dr Ken Thompson on Tuesday 17th August. In a talk entitled Where do Camels Belong? Ken will discuss a number of questions: Where do plants and animals belong? And is that the same thing as where they’re native? What does ‘native’ mean anyway? Does it have any kind of time limit? Should it? And what should be our attitude to natives and aliens?

We’re delighted to have a small number of the Florilegium Society’s new book available for purchase in our online shop. Called A Florilegium: Sheffield’s Hidden Garden, the book celebrates some of the plants at the Botanical Gardens in beautiful illustrations by members of the Society, alongside informative plant profiles.

Thanks to the 260 people from around 25 countries who signed up for our Urban Planting symposium. Tickets sales have realised over £6,300 towards the restoration of the James Hitchmough prairie at the Gardens. The event was very well received and, in response to several requests, we are now offering access to the recording of the four talks for a limited period.

We can’t wait for the urban planting symposium we’re hosting tomorrow (4th August)! Four world-class researchers will talk about the plants and designs they use in the face of climate change and the loss of biodiversity. All the proceeds will be used for the restoration of the prairie designed by James Hitchmough at the Gardens.

We’re delighted to launch our programme of public tours of the Gardens. Planned in Autumn 2019, but put on hold because of the pandemic, the first one finally took place this week - and was a big success!

Our next pop-up plant sale is this Sunday (1st August) from 11am till 3pm. It will be on the lower lawns of the Botanical Gardens, near the Dorothy Fox Education Centre. Lots of unusual garden plants available, all at sensible prices, and with advice on hand about suitable locations and care.

Thanks to Patrick for giving us a wonderful talk this morning on the rival histories of Wentworth Woodhouse and Wentworth Castle, and for sharing his archival prints and commissioned images of the two estates. A copy of the lecture is now in the password-protected Friends Area of this website.

Our next online lecture is by the splendid Dr Patrick Eyres. He will talk to us on Tuesday 20th July about Wentworth Castle and Wentworth Woodhouse, two Georgian rivals united through 21st-century restoration and public access.

Our next pop-up plant sale is Saturday 17 July from 11am till 1pm at 145 High Storrs Rd S11 7LG.

Come and browse a large selection of garden plants, plus copies of the new Florilegium book and other merchandise. We’ll also be offering refreshments for £5. Please book your place for tea and home-made cakes by emailing Christine at fobs.talksandtours@gmail.com.

Volunteers are working hard to help keep the Gardens beautiful. The specialist propagation team volunteered for 246 hours during June, while those working in the Gardens provided another 264 hours.

We’re delighted to welcome two bears to the Gardens as part of the admirable Bears of Sheffield trail, all in aid of The Children’s Hospital Charity. The design of the 60 big bears and 100 little bears on the trail is based on the bear sculpture in our bear pit, and designed by the same artist, David Mayne.

Thanks to plantsman and garden designer Jimi Blake for his inspirational lecture for us on the plants and plant combinations he uses in his garden in Hunting Brook, County Wicklow. Such a feast of colour! A recording of the lecture is now available in the password-protected Friends Area of the website.

Sheffield Botanical Gardens has been awarded a 2-year package of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver an exciting programme of horticultural education, informal learning and engagement activities, boosting the Garden’s profile as a regional Centre for Horticultural Excellence.

We’re holding two pop-up plant sales in July: Saturday 3rd from 2pm to 4pm at 47 Slayleigh Lane S10 3RG, and Saturday 17th from 11am till 1pm at 145 High Storrs Rd S11 7LG. Both will have a large choice of garden plants available.