A Garden Walk . . .

Built in 1986 and opened in 1987 the Temperate House was designed to reflect the curvilinear conservatories of the Victorian era on the Isle of Wight but using modern technology and materials.

The use of twin skinned polycarbonate sheeting removes the problem of glazing a curved surface and adds the additional bonus of energy efficiency having less heat loss than glass. Internally the Temperate House has been landscaped to provide a display of mostly southern hemisphere plants and thus plants from Australia, South Africa, South America and New Zealand are incorporated. There are also collections from oceanic islands such as the Canary Islands and Madeira. A considerable number of these plants are endangered in the wild and for some extinction seems inevitable.

Due to space limitations the plantings in this house are frequently changed to provide a cross section of the various floras that are grown. As a result annuals, bulbs, herbaceous perennials, sub-shrubs, shrubs and trees are all grown; few plants are seen as long term.

In the foyer of the house a photographic display of the site during its years as an hospital may be seen. The foyer is also used for a variety of displays of ornamental plants some of which call upon local societies such as the Island Orchid Growers who stage a colourful and popular display at Easter each year.

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