Botanic Gardens is situated in the south of the city between Queen's University and the River Lagan. It contains two sites, Botanic Gardens and Lower Botanic Gardens. As well as featuring a historical Palm House, Tropical Ravine and gate-lodge, the main Gardens site contain woodland, alpine and rose gardens, a bandstand, toilet block, playground, herbaceous and shrub borders and areas of amenity spaces, including the ‘Great Lawn’ and former bowling facility which currently operates as a play centre. The Lower Gardens site lies adjacent to the River Lagan and contains a playground, a community garden (Upsurge Project) and grassland. The Great Lawn hosts a range of community and music events throughout the year.
There are eight public pedestrian gates in Botanic Park site, none of which connect onto lit paths. These are located at:
- College Park
- University Road
- Ulster Museum
- Colenso Parade
- Botanic Court adjacent to Botanic primary school,
- Stranmillis embankment adjacent to the Lyric Theatre, and
- two at the PEC sports facility.
All of these gates currently open from dawn to dusk in line with standard parks opening hours, with the exception of the gate at the Ulster Museum which is opened by its management in line with its opening hours.
Whilst some of our parks benefit from lighting infrastructure on an element of their path networks, Botanic Gardens currently does not. Any future provision of lighting will be subject to funding, and informed by feasibility work that will include habitat assessment and options appraisal.
