University of Bristol Introduces Donation Based Weekday Entry to Botanic Garden During 150th Anniversary Year

A magnolia flowering in the spring sunshine
Image credit: University of Bristol

(IN BRIEF) The University of Bristol will introduce donation-based weekday entry to its Botanic Garden throughout 2026, removing the fixed admission fee as part of celebrations marking the university’s 150th anniversary. The initiative builds on the garden’s existing DAISY DAY programme and aims to make the garden more accessible while supporting conservation and educational activities. Home to more than 5,000 plant species, the garden features glasshouses, the Evolution Dell and themed collections including rare native plants and medicinal species. Weekend ticket prices will remain unchanged, while selected summer evenings will see extended opening hours to encourage more visitors to enjoy the garden’s botanical collections and natural spaces.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRISTOL, 5-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — University of Bristol has announced that entry to its Botanic Garden will be offered on a donation basis during weekdays throughout 2026, removing the fixed admission price in an effort to make the garden more accessible to the public. The initiative coincides with the university’s 150th anniversary and is intended to encourage greater community engagement with the garden and its collections.

Springtime peony at the Botanic Garden
Image credit: University of Bristol

Under the new approach, visitors will be able to access the garden on weekdays by making a voluntary contribution rather than paying a standard entry fee. The donation system aims to broaden access while still supporting the garden’s ongoing conservation, research and educational activities.

The change builds on the success of the Botanic Garden’s “DAISY DAY” programme, which has operated every Wednesday for the past three years and allows visitors to enter by making a donation of their choosing.

Nick Wray, Curator of the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, said the initiative reflects the belief that nature should be open and accessible to everyone. He noted that the garden offers a place where people can explore plant science, experience biodiversity and find a space for relaxation and reflection.

The Botanic Garden is home to extensive plant collections and specialised glasshouses that contain more than 4,500 species. These collections form an important resource for education, conservation and research while also serving as a public attraction for visitors interested in plants, ecology and natural history.

Guests can explore a range of themed spaces across the garden, including tropical glasshouses, the Evolution Dell and other curated plant environments. Each area presents a different botanical theme and illustrates aspects of plant diversity and development. Visitors can also access audio tours that provide additional information about the plants and ecosystems featured throughout the garden.

The Evolution Dell is among the garden’s most distinctive features, showcasing plant species that illustrate the evolution of land plants. Species found there include ginkgo, cycads, tree ferns, monkey puzzle trees and the rare Wollemi Pine.

The garden’s glasshouses host tropical and subtropical species, including giant Amazon water lilies, orchids, cacti, tropical fruit plants and medicinal plant collections. The garden also includes displays of useful plants and herb gardens representing both Chinese and Western traditions.

In addition to weekday donation entry, the Botanic Garden plans to introduce extended opening hours on selected summer evenings. These additional hours will allow visitors to enjoy the garden after work and experience the space during different times of day.

Weekend visits will continue to follow the existing ticketing structure. Adult tickets will remain priced at £9 (or £9.90 with Gift Aid), while entry will remain free for children and students. The donation-based entry system will also apply on Bank Holidays but will not cover special events hosted at the garden, which will continue to have separate ticketing arrangements.

Located at The Holmes on Stoke Park Road in Bristol, the Botanic Garden cultivates more than 5,000 plant species arranged across several major collections. These collections focus on plant evolution, Mediterranean-climate plants, useful plants and rare or threatened species native to the Bristol region.

Among the garden’s newer features is the Guangzhou Garden, a landscape installation with water features originally created for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2021 where it won a gold medal and “Best in Show.” The garden was reconstructed at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden and opened to visitors in 2024.

Through the new donation-based entry initiative, the University of Bristol hopes to attract more visitors to experience the garden’s plant collections, research activities and natural environment while reinforcing its role as a welcoming space for the local community.

Further information
The Botanic Garden is located at The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, Bristol, BS9 1JG. The Botanic Garden has a strong evolutionary theme and cultivates over 5,000 plant species, forming four core collections that illustrate: plant evolution, plants from Mediterranean climates, useful plants (including Chinese and Western herb gardens) and rare and threatened native plants to the Bristol area.

Star attractions include an amazing dell demonstrating the evolution of land plants including ginkgo, cycads, tree ferns, monkey puzzles and the Wollemi Pine.  Other delights include glasshouses, home to the giant Amazon water lily, tropical fruit and medicinal plants, orchids, cacti and a unique sacred lotus collection. A newly opened Guangzhou Garden, with extensive water features, which won a gold medal and the ‘best in show’ at the 2021 Chelsea Flower Show has been rebuilt at the Botanic Garden and was opened to visitors in 2024.

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Email: press-office@bristol.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)117 428 2489

SOURCE: University of Bristol