Montserrat Botanic Garden
| Botanic Garden | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Information |
The Montserrat Botanic Garden is found at the Oriole Complex in Olveston on Montserrat. It was created anew from 2005 after the original botanic garden in Plymouth was destroyed by the eruption of the Soufrière Hills volcano between 1995 and 1997.
In 2005 then, the Montserrat National Trust decided to create a new botanic garden, to provide a resource for the islanders and as an attraction for overseas tourists. It aims to provide an educational resource and training for children and other residents of Montserrat, and also scientific research into the island's ecosystems and their long-term conservation.
In this endeavour the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew have become a project partner and supported the development of the garden, by providing technical expertise and advice.[1]
Plants and features
A key role of the botanic garden is to provide a link with the Centre Hills, the largest remaining area of intact biodiversity-rich forest on the island, by displaying some of the native and endemic species found there.
Within the garden one may find a medicinal plant garden, a "ghaut" habitat representing the vegetation found in the island's steep-sided valleys and an orchid house. There is also the Dry Forest walk.
The garden has a plant nursery with shade house and sufficient facilities to manage and propagate the plants. An education centre and displays of the native and endemic species found in the hills highlights the activities of the Darwin Project “Enabling the People of Montserrat to Conserve the Centre Hills”.
The endemic shrub ‘’Rondeletia buxifolia’’ has been established at the botanic garden. Planted along part of the boundary, it provides a demonstration hedge with a view to promoting the use of this native plant in preference to non-native and potentially invasive species which residents use for hedging.
