UKOTCF

Montserrat Botanic Garden

The Montserrat National Trust Botanical Gardens are a centre for plant conservation, education, and community engagement in Olveston.

Montserrat Botanic Garden

The Montserrat National Trust Botanical Gardens, located in Olveston, are a vital hub for conservation, education, and community engagement. Established in 2005 through collaboration between the Montserrat National Trust (MNT) and partners including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the gardens were developed to replace the original botanical gardens in Plymouth, which were lost during the volcanic crisis of the 1990s. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Today, the gardens provide a welcoming space for residents and visitors, while supporting conservation and research focused on Montserrat’s native and endemic flora.

Highlights of the gardens

The gardens include a diverse collection of plant species, including many that are endemic to Montserrat and the wider Caribbean. Key features include:

  • Orchid House — showcasing the critically endangered Montserrat orchid (Epidendrum montserratense) and other regional orchids :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
  • Medicinal Garden — featuring plants used in traditional herbal remedies
  • Palm Promenade — a scenic walkway displaying palms from the Caribbean
  • Cacti and Succulent Garden — highlighting tropical arid-adapted species
  • Pribby Hedge — a flourishing hedge of the endemic shrub (Rondeletia buxifolia)

The gardens also include a nursery, supporting the propagation of endemic species and documenting their survival and growth under cultivation.

Visiting the gardens

The Botanical Gardens and Gift Shop are open:

  • Monday to Thursday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
  • Friday: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Admission fees

  • Non-members: $20 EC
  • Members: Free
  • Children (under 16): Free

Group tours (and extended opening hours for groups of 10+) can be arranged by contacting the Trust in advance. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Education, events, and community engagement

The Botanical Gardens play an important role in helping people learn about Montserrat’s unique flora and the importance of conservation. They offer a peaceful retreat for locals and visitors alike and host community events such as the annual Flower Show and Tea Party, celebrating the island’s resilience and natural heritage.

Conservation and research partnerships

Beyond public engagement, the gardens contribute directly to conservation of Montserrat’s endemic plants through propagation, research, and collaboration with partner organisations.

The gardens have benefited from partnerships with:

  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
  • Meise Botanic Garden
  • other conservation and research organisations working in the UK Overseas Territories

Montserrat’s National Herbarium and digitisation

Recent work includes the development of Montserrat’s National Herbarium, hosted by the Montserrat National Trust. This herbarium is a key resource for botanical research and conservation, providing a repository for plant specimens collected across Montserrat’s ecosystems.

The Trust is also advancing the digitisation of its collections, aiming to make specimen records and images accessible online. A digital herbarium supports research, education, and evidence-based conservation by improving access to botanical information and strengthening biodiversity data systems.