Oxford Botanic Garden
& Arboretum

A message from our Director

Celebrating 400 years

In 2022 we continue a year of celebrations to commemorate the founding of Oxford Botanic Garden, the UK’s oldest botanic garden. Established on July 25th 1621, as the Oxford Physic Garden for growing medicinal herbs (‘simples’) used to teach medical students, it became known as the Oxford Botanic Garden in 1840 to reflect its role in experimental botany.

Last year all of the large-scale celebrations we planned had to be postponed because of the pandemic. This allowed us to extend the modest celebrations that were possible in 2021 through to July 2022. A highlight of 2022 will be the official launch of our very special Oxford Physic Rose at the Chelsea Flower Show in May.

This new hybrid rose was specially created by Peter Beales Roses Ltd to celebrate the Garden’s 400th anniversary and will be centrepiece of what we hope will be another gold medal winning stand for this esteemed rose breeder.

We will also be launching a special celebration whisky with our friends The Oxford Artisan Distillery, creators of our shop best seller Oxford Physic Gin. Black Pine Whisky takes its name from the famous eponymous tree that grew in the Botanic Garden from the 1830s until 2014 and each of the 400 bottles will be accompanied by a presentation tray made from its wood.

Following a series of themed education and engagement events during spring and early summer (notably with Oxford Festival of the Arts) the climax to our celebrations will begin on July 15th with a contemporary recreation of the founding ceremony in the presence of the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, and end with a big birthday party at the Garden on July 30th.

From 15th - 25th July there will be special events, including a celebration of Oxford’s twin cities’ gardens, a demonstration, workshop and exhibition on the ancient art of nature printing by designer Pia Östlund, a day of poetry with Alice Oswald and friends, an evening with Raymond Blanc and on July 25th the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment will perform a special concert of 17th and 18th century music at Oxford Town Hall. We thank Vitax and Zucker Books for their generous sponsorship towards these events

From Monday 25th July there will be free events at the Garden with a different theme on each day, beginning with the Garden’s history on Monday, followed by days devoted to literature, science, art, food and wellbeing, and finally, a big birthday party on Saturday 30th July.

During the course of these exciting celebrations, we will explain the importance of plants to people in the face of global challenges, and how our ambitious plans will build the future of Oxford Botanic Garden for the 21st century and beyond.

- Professor Simon Hiscock, Director