As was the case in the last few days before we left Denmark and Germany, I would often be found rushing around favourite places, or those places that had been on the list but that we hadn’t quite made it to. And, as we very much treated Cambridge like any other expat location when we first arrived, it’s probably not much of a surprise that we are doing the same here too in the run up to the move…
It’s probably no secret that Cambridge and I didn’t get on so well at first. It was a huge adjustment coming back to a part of the UK that we didn’t know at all (especially when you can probably get back quicker from Munich to visit those people that make it worthwhile being back!), but slowly, and as we got to know the place (and the city obviously became more familiar), there were ready favourites amongst the places we spent time, and Cambridge’s Botanical Gardens is most definitely one of them…
Beautiful at any time of year (especially in the blossom months), at 40 acres it might not be the biggest botanical gardens in the world, but owned and run by Cambridge University (so it’s obviously free for students!), I would put it up there in any “important botanical garden category” if there was one. It’s a green and spacious peaceful lung in what can for various reasons be a pretty hectic city throughout the entire year.
And as we work our way through lasts – last visits to playgroups, last visits to libraries and the like, and other places that have formed the backdrop to our lives here (and made Cambridge a lot easier to get on with!), along with Wandlebury Country Park, the Botanical Gardens are probably the places I have been saddest about saying a final goodbye to so far, so we took our time there on a recent visit, and explored all our usual favourite corners.
First up, a spot of dragon fly interviewing, and some damselfly flight coordination advice given by The Toddler, plus a few conversations with any bees taking up brief occupancy in the fox gloves, before we ventured inside what is the most favourite part of the entire place for the Toddler: the Glasshouses.
He likes to inspect each and every room (the giant waterlilies are always a must see!) covering most climates and habitats, opening the door to each section himself and admiring the contents before moving on to the next one. This is all done very much at his pace so some days you might as well forget it if you are actually trying to read about something… But there have been days that I have been back ohne kinder, to be able to take my time wandering and actually be able to appreciate some of the 8000 species here a little more closely!
Another favourite past-time is a bit of tree hugging (for both of us), who couldn’t resist giving this Sequoia a squeeze (well at least I think it’s a Sequoia, I didn’t actually get much time to read the signs!). I don’t think any of the giants in this part of the gardens are actually that old which is quite mind blowing given how big they are…
As you might imagine given the fact that it’s in Cambridge, it’s a wonderfully flat place to visit, making it perfect for pushchairs and wheelchairs alike, and when you are all worn out from a day of horticultural worship and insect conversation, then the restaurant and cafe here is pretty good too (although it’s also a really lovely place for a picnic!)…
Also given the fact that it’s Cambridge, there’s a really good section to learn about local Fenlands, and how people have worked on and around them in these parts across the centuries. It’s also where I took the cloud picture at the very top!
When my younger two were tiny, Kew Gardens served as an extended part of our back garden (the Eleven year old even took his first steps there), and I was always quite sad that it didn’t yet feature in my memory bank for The Toddler. Now I realise, that this botanical gardens has been a really good substitute…
University Botanic Garden 1 Brookside Cambridge CB2 1JE – Open most of the year around, from 10 am each day…
I hadn’t realised there were these gardens in Cambridge. It’s lovely that you’ve found a place to explore with your family nearby. I suspect you will make lots of memories here
Thanks Zena! (: x
What a beautiful place to visit. The Botanical gardens look like such a peaceful place to visit with the little ones, and that giant tree is beautiful!!
Thanks Katy! (: x
beautiful gardens! are you moving to York now?did I get that right from your posts?;)
No, to Winchester this time around! :)
This is such a lovely post – so wistful.
I’m so pleased you did find a little bit of Cambridge to fall in love with xxx
Thank you Trish! :) xxx
I think the Botanical Gardens would be a lovely place to visit withmy children
It’s a great place to visit with kids. Thanks Becky!
I grew up in Cambridge and these gardens were always nice to visit and go on dates in.
Thanks Anosa!
It’s must have been such a shock moving back and adjusting to a different way of life again. I’ve always had a love for Cambridge. It’s a city. The gardens look incredible.
It was a bit of a shock at first… Thanks so much Kirsty! :)
I didn’t know Cambridge had a secret botanical garden, how lovely. It’s great that it is free to students too
Thanks Melissa. It’s not that secret really, it’s just that lots of people go to Cambridge and don’t even know it’s there! :D x
Looks like a lovely botanical garden and a very educational visit too. It’s nice that it’s free for students and maintained by the university x
Thank you! I think they do a lot of studies here too, it’s a nice perk to being a Cambridge student! :) x
Looks like a very relaxing day out, especially in the summer
It really is. Thanks Hannah! :)
Me and my boyfriend are planning to go to Cambridge for our anniversary later this year so I’ll have to make sure this is on our weekend list to visit x
Oh you definitely should! :) Thanks Rhian! x
What a beautiful place. We’re visiting Cambridge for the first time in a few weeks and I can’t wait. I’ll add this to my list!
I hope you go, it’s so lovely! Thanks Laura! (: x
love the colourful edges of the tree and how the sky reflects in the pond water
Thank you! It’s a photographer’s dream! :)
Ah yes, not too dissimilar from my recently planted balcony. *ahem*
I knew it reminded me of somewhere! :D
We used to live in Cambridge yonks ago and the city really took some time to grow on me too and in hindsight we just did too much exploring away from Cambridge and not enough of the actual city. We’re visiting some friends there soon and I’ll have to get to the botanical gardens (I’ve never been)!
Ah, how funny! Yes, you really should go! :) Thanks Jenny!
Sequioas are incredible, aren’t they? We saw one in Normandy that was colossal, but which was only ten years old. These gardens sound like a lovely haven. You’re right, Cambridge can get very crowded!
Thanks Nell! Yes, they are incredible! I think these ones are around 50 years old!
I love the look of the glass house, you could defintely print off a nature trail acitivity sheet from Pinterest and make a day of it with the kids
That’s a really good idea! Thanks Leighanne! :)
They are so inquisitive at this age Emma, I miss that!! :)
It’s such a funny age! :D Thanks Lorelle! x
Yes a truly beautiful spot. You have your very own water lilies now. Lovely photographs to remember this spot. x
Thank you. Yes, I wonder how long they survive in my care! :D x
What a tranquil place to visit. I love the look of the big, old tree! Bet this place is a lovely respite from the buzz of the city x
I think that’s why I have loved it so much. Thanks Sam! xx