The Tunnel
Our regular Tunnel Tours are currently postponed. Please email foh@botanic.co.uk if you'd like to enquire about a private tour.
Ventnor Botanic Garden has many secrets, some dating back to the days of the Royal National Hospital that formerly stood on the site. Underground caverns, secret passageways and a tunnel through the cliff can be found by the visitors to the Garden.
A proposal to dig a tunnel from the gardens down to the shore was mooted in the late 1800s. The Royal National Hospital annual report for 1875 states that “There can be no doubt that if the patients were able to obtain free access to the shore it would be very conducive alike to their recovery and their enjoyment.” Money for the tunnel at that time was not forthcoming and although it was built later, its function was by no means the rather romantic conception that has given rise to a good deal of speculation and comment; it was in fact used as a conduit for rubbish that was propelled through it and dumped into the sea. Steel tramlines are still visible on the floor. Exactly when the tunnel was built is unknown; possibly it was in relation to a new system of drainage and sewage disposal that was completed sometime in the 1880s. The tunnel was closed at both ends in 1940.
The 350 foot long vaulted roofed tunnel exits through the cliff midway down and is inaccessible. DO NOT attempt to locate the exit, or try to enter unless with one of our guides, as the cliff is extremely dangerous. Bolted gates are also in place for safety.
The Plantation Room – Now Open
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Free Beer! Hop Picking 10th September 2014
Volunteers needed! The 2014 hop pick is definitely Wednesday 10th September 2014. Sign in then make your way to the Hop Yard at the cliff top behind the garden from 10am. Pickers will be rewarded with a free sample of the latest batch of Ventnor Botanic Garden...
Irene Fletcher Returns as Education Manager
Irene Fletcher Returns as Education Manager VBG team expands to fulfil its education potential August 24th We are pleased to announce that Irene Fletcher, Education Officer at VBG until 2008, will return full time to VBG in September 2012. Irene was greatly missed by...
The VBG Kangaroo returns
After its summer walkabout the kangaroo has come back The VBG kangaroo went "walkabout" earlier in the summer when it was stolen from the garden, but it has been returned by the police following a tip off. The distinctive yellow sign, seen above held by PC...
Garden Blog
Too often become desensitised with the Garden at Ventnor. Seeing it every day we don’t have the opportunity to compare it with other gardens open to the public. We casually walk past our plants; nearly every month has something flowering for the first time at...
John’s Blog
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Daily Garden tours
Every day, tours of the Garden and behind the scenes at VBG. What's at the end of The Tunnel? Every day we have a menu of different free tours guided by VBG staff and volunteers. Take the journey through The Tunnel to the towering cliff. Have a first hand account on...
John’s Blog
It is one week since the signing of a 125 year lease for the Ventnor Botanic Garden (VBG) from the IOW Council to a Community Interest Company (C.I.C.). We burned up most of the runway negotiating the lease and the transfer, so we had to introduce our initial changes...
Garden Blog
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125 Year Lease Signed With IOWC
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VBG’s Beer Requested by CAMRA for Festival
Tropicale makes its debut at Great British Beer Festival July 11th Tropicale, the beer made by Yates' Brewery using the unique hops grown at Ventnor Botanic Garden, has been requested by CAMRA to star at the Great British Beer Festival. Yate's brewery were asked to...
VBG Advisor Susyn Andrews wins top award
Special Honour from the Royal Horticultural Society July 10th Everyone at Ventnor Botanic Garden is immensely pleased and proud that Susyn Andrews, member of the VBG CIC Advisory Group, has been recognised by the Royal Horticultural Society with the award of The...
Latest Design Walk with Alex Kimovski
In this walk we took a look at the Rock and Scree Bank and Signal Point House On this walk we discovered how serendipity, luck, marine ply and Julian Winslow had played a part in the genesis of the Rock and Scree Bank. The initial plantings in 2002 were experimental,...
40th Anniversary Celebrations for VBG
REPORT OF THE 40TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT VENTNOR BOTANIC GARDEN ON 21ST JUNE 2012 The Ventnor Botanic Garden was opened by Lord Louis Mountbatten on 21st July 1972 and to mark the occasion of the 40th Anniversary, the new Community Interest Company, led by John...
Garden Blog
On Saurday 16th June I had the great pleasure of greeting Dr John David, the Royal Horticultural Society's Chief Scientist at VBG. We spent a highly enlightening afternoon reviewing the Puya collection. We received this email from Dr David frollowing his visit:...
Tel: 01983 855397 | Ventnor Botanic Garden Community Company C.I.C | Company Number: 07976468 | Registered Address: Undercliff Drive, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, PO38 1UL