Around the Gardens

Restoration & Improvements

The Alameda Gardens began to undergo a rehabilitation process in 1991, when they became the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens. Although some restoration works are still being carried out, works around the gardens now mostly consist of new projects and consolidation of the vast improvements that have been made over the past two decades. These include the continued development of planting beds, enhancement of recreational areas and a glasshouse in which to display plants from tropical and extreme arid climates.

Horticulture & Maintenance

The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens exhibit plants from around the world, with distinct areas of the gardens dedicated to different plant groups or geographical zones. Our works around the gardens always aim to achieve best practice in horticultural techniques. We have a hard-working team that strives towards a sustainable, environmentally friendly garden, where water consumption is always among the foremost considerations when planting and irrigation are planned. The use of pesticides and herbicides is kept to an absolute minimum, making the gardens a haven for wildlife. In cases where locally rare plant species grow wild in our gardens, we ensure that any works carried out are sensitive to these. Our arboricultural section ensures that our trees are managed so that they are attractive and safe for visitors and staff.

Plant Collections & Conservation

The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens grow plants from all over the world, but we specialise in species from Mediterranean and arid habitats. Our collections are carefully documented and managed for scientific and conservation purposes, with those of succulent plants being particularly extensive. We also keep ex situ collections of the special plants of Gibraltar and have introduced some of these endemics and near-endemics to cultivation around the Rock. The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens regularly participate in conservation work in Gibraltar and, working with the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS), played an instrumental role in the rediscovery and subsequent propagation of the endemic Gibraltar Campion Silene tomentosa.

Project Beds

Some of the beds around the gardens have been set aside for annual projects, particularly as part of our children’s programmes. One of the beds along the Main Walk is developed on a yearly basis by our children’s gardening club, always based on a topical theme. Children cultivate their own fruit and vegetables on another bed, whilst one area is being developed so that children can appreciate relationships between plants and invertebrates.