Planting and landscaping
The Glasshouse has three climatic zones, recreating tropical, moist temperate and dry temperate habitats.
The Glasshouse also features a special Root Zone, the Clore Learning Centre and the Horticultural Theatre
The Glasshouse experience
Walking through the Bicentenary Glasshouse you will experience ‘The World under Glass’ - a world tour of plants from every corner of the globe.
One main pathway, forming a figure of eight, takes you on your journey of discovery, following the contours of the site passing rocky outcrops, waterfalls, still pools and gently sloping gradients. Raised viewing platforms allow you to experience the landscapes and plants from new and unusual vantage points.
Learning
The Glasshouse has an area specially dedicated to learning activities called The Learning Space, and visitors will be able to get hands-on experience in the Growing Lab, and see how professional glasshouse gardeners work to ensure the high standard in the display areas.
Dedicated technical and teaching support will ensure opportunities for all visitors - from primary age upwards - in a superb, modern environment.
The Glasshouse plant collection
The Glasshouse collection is one of the most extensive and diverse collections of tender plants in the world. It includes many species of plants, which are internationally classified as rare, vulnerable or endangered.
The collection of plants serves as a reservoir of material for future breeding work, as well as the Society’s independent evaluation of new plants through its glasshouse trials.
Technology
The Glasshouse has been built to the highest specification, using the most up-to-date technological advances that have been made in structural design, including the use of 3 x 2m (10 x 6.5ft) curved sheets of tempered glass to allow maximum light transmission, greater strength, wind resistance and thermal efficiency.
A computer controls the growing environments including feeding, heating, lighting, ventilation, thermal screens for shading and energy saving and irrigation.