Tropical treasure!
Sunken ravine garden reopens after £3.8 million restoration
Aunique Victorian feature, created to showcase the tropical world, has reopened after a three-year, £3.8 million restoration. The bespoke 52m (170ft) long, 10.5m (35ft) wide, glazed feature at Belfast Botanic Gardens takes the shape of a sunken ravine viewed from a high-level, railed balcony.
Opened in 1889, the ravine, or glen, was the brainchild of Charles McKimm, the venue’s first head gardener. Several grottos landscaped into the walls were illuminated by candles and fitted with mirrors to give a range of visual effects. The feature also included a waterfall, operated by a chain and pulley system.
The ravine was extended in 1902 to create a section for warmer tropical plants and a heated pond to house a giant water lily, Victoria regia. Funded by the National Lottery and Belfast City Council, the Grade II listed building has been restored with many of its original Victorian features reinstated and preserved. Improvements have seen the ravine split over two levels, with a reception area on the ground floor, and the building modernised to make it more energy efficient, including triple-glazed windows. The waterfall has been tastefully enlarged to make it more visually impressive. During building work, larger plants were moved into the Palm House, or to the garden’s support glasshouses. Large cycads were covered in polythene tents to protect them from construction work and cold.
“The Tropical Ravine is a true heritage treasure that rewards visitors with a unique, entertaining and educational experience,” said Sir Peter Luff, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund. ● Visit www.belfastcity. gov.uk/TropicalRavine.