Treborth Botanic Gardens is a small haven that lies roughly 1 mile down a track from the Bangor Side of Menai Bridge. Following this track through the arboretum leads to the entrance of this aesthetically pleasing location used by students and the local community alike. Although small in size, there is a multitude of interesting locations throughout the site. This includes: the arboretum (a project eventually housing Welsh forest history), the tropical house (growing Bangor’s best bananas), the temperate house (containing cacti of all sizes) and the orchid house (covering 3 different temperature ranges under one roof), not to mention the 16ft tree fern in the bog garden. The wide range of ex-situ climates present covers a wide variety of interests, providing an ideal location for honours projects.
Treborth requires regular maintenance by a group of locals known as The Friends of Treborth Botanic Gardens (FTBG), assisted by Bangor University student society, the Students for Treborth Action Group (STAG). With weekly voluntary opportunities on Wednesdays and Fridays, there are plenty of opportunities to get stuck in and meet like-minded people.
A side from volunteering, many of the public choose to take advantage of the recreational aspect of this botanic gardens, whether it be cross country running, family walks or a casual browse around the gardens. Furthermore, many special events are laid on throughout the year, catering to all interests. These include the famous plant sales which attract a high footfall, not only for the wide fauna selection but also for the delicious afternoon tea, the profits of which are ploughed back into maintaining this location. Other activities include the very popular fungal forays open to all age groups and lead by Treborth’s much loved curator Nigel Brown. Participants are invited to split into groups and then set loose in the grounds to find fungi of all shapes, shades and sizes. At the end of the day families regroup to see the array of findings before Brown describes and selects characteristics of the most interesting specimens. There are also cultural events hosted by Treborth, such as the renowned Botanical Beats. This music and arts festival brings in the likes local businesses, arts/crafts specialists as well as the student societies for a unforgettable low-cost festival.
This fantastic Botanical and Horticultural resource therefore provides something for everyone whether it be a contribution to a cutting edge scientific report or providing an interesting plant to a hobby gardener.
