The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens or La Alameda Gardens are a botanical garden in Gibraltar, spanning around 6 hectares (15 acres). The Rock Hotel lies above the park.
In 1816 the gardens were commissioned by the BritishGovernor of GibraltarGeneral George Don. It was his intention that the soldiers stationed in the fortress would have a pleasant recreational area to enjoy when off duty, and so inhabitants could enjoy the air protected from the extreme heat of the sun.[1]
The gardens were resurrected in 1991 by an external company when it was realised that since the 1970s they had fallen into a poor state. Three years later the gardens had the addition of a zoo: the Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park.[1]
In 2001 a bronze sculpture of James Joyce's Molly Bloom was installed in the gardens. This running figure was commissioned from Jon Searle to celebrate the bicentenary of the Gibraltar Chronicle in 2001.[2]
The Eliott Memorialedit
General Don had commissioned a memorial of George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield, in 1815, which did not materialise in the form initially requested. A colossal statue of General Eliot, carved from the bowsprit of the Spanish ship San Juan Nepomuceno, taken at the Battle of Trafalgar, was first created.[3] That statue was taken to the governor's residence, The Convent, where it stands today, being replaced by the present bronze bust in 1858. This statue is guarded for four 18th-century howitzers.[3]
The Alameda Open Air Theatre was inaugurated once again on 12 April 1996 at four o'clock with three bands of music playing - the same number of bands as had attended 180 years before to the hour at the opening of the Alameda Gardens in 1816. In order to extend its use from just theatre to general use, a number of new features were introduced, like the waterfall and lake - the largest area of open fresh water on the Rock, with Koi Carp and a collection of exotic lilies. Since its opening, this venue has been used for a variety of purposes, from beauty contests to band concerts, also weddings, dinner dances, conferences and variety shows.[5] It also is the main venue for the GIB Fringe.
The theater is available for hire and all proceeds will go directly into continued improvements in the theatre and in the rest of Gibraltar's historic and rapidly improving Alameda Gardens.
Useful information about the theater and its facilities: Seating Capacity: 435 Stage Area: 120 m2 Lighting Equipment: 34 Wide and Beams with colored filters if required. 3 stage and 3 public entrances. Bar, changing rooms and toilet facilities. Seating with table maximum capacity: 300
"Gibraltar Botanical Gardens "The Alameda"". Government of Gibraltar. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
^ ab"Welcome to the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens". The Alameda Gibraltar Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
^. Gibraltar Chronicle. 2001. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
^ abcAlameda Gardens, Strolling Guides, accessed August 2012
^ ab. Government of Gibraltar. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
^. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gibraltar Botanic Gardens.
Official website
January 01, 1970
gibraltar, botanic, gardens, alameda, gardens, botanical, garden, gibraltar, spanning, around, hectares, acres, rock, hotel, lies, above, park, alamedathe, dell, heart, alameda, gardenstypebotanical, gardenlocationgibraltarcoordinates36, 1313, 3511, 1313, 3511. The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens or La Alameda Gardens are a botanical garden in Gibraltar spanning around 6 hectares 15 acres The Rock Hotel lies above the park Gibraltar Botanic GardensLa AlamedaThe Dell in the heart of La Alameda GardensTypeBotanical gardenLocationGibraltarCoordinates36 07 53 N 5 21 04 W 36 1313 N 5 3511 W 36 1313 5 3511Area6 hectares 15 acres Opened1816Owned byGovernment of GibraltarOperated byWildlife Gibraltar LimitedStatusOpen all yearPlantsAloes palms dragon trees sunken gardenSpecies1 900DirectorDr Keith BensusanWebsiteGibraltarGardens gi Contents 1 History 1 1 The Eliott Memorial 2 Plants of the gardens 2 1 Events 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editIn 1816 the gardens were commissioned by the British Governor of Gibraltar General George Don It was his intention that the soldiers stationed in the fortress would have a pleasant recreational area to enjoy when off duty and so inhabitants could enjoy the air protected from the extreme heat of the sun 1 The gardens were resurrected in 1991 by an external company when it was realised that since the 1970s they had fallen into a poor state Three years later the gardens had the addition of a zoo the Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park 1 In 2001 a bronze sculpture of James Joyce s Molly Bloom was installed in the gardens This running figure was commissioned from Jon Searle to celebrate the bicentenary of the Gibraltar Chronicle in 2001 2 The Eliott Memorial edit General Don had commissioned a memorial of George Augustus Eliott 1st Baron Heathfield in 1815 which did not materialise in the form initially requested A colossal statue of General Eliot carved from the bowsprit of the Spanish ship San Juan Nepomuceno taken at the Battle of Trafalgar was first created 3 That statue was taken to the governor s residence The Convent where it stands today being replaced by the present bronze bust in 1858 This statue is guarded for four 18th century howitzers 3 Plants of the gardens edit nbsp The Elliott Memorial dates from 1858 3 The plants of the Alameda Gardens are a combination of native species and others brought in from abroad Dracaena draco Canary Islands Dragon Tree a subtropical Dragon Tree native to the Canary Islands Cape Verde Madeira Azores and locally in western Morocco The oldest dragon tree in the gardens is about 300 years old Stone pine Pinus pinea a species of pine native of southern Europe primarily the Iberian Peninsula Wild Olive Olea europaea a species of small tree in the family Oleaceae Celtis australis European Nettle Tree a deciduous tree that can be among 20 to 25 metres of height Grevillea robusta Australian Silk Oak the largest species in the genus Grevillea There is only one specimen of this tree in the gardens 4 Canary Island Date Palm Phoenix canariensis a large palm native to the Canary Islands off the Atlantic coast of north Africa Washingtonia filifera Washingtonia a palm native to the desert oases of Central southern and southwestern Arizona southern Nevada extreme northwest Mexico and inland deserts of southern California Howea forsteriana Kentia palm endemic to Lord Howe Island Ptychosperma elegans Solitaire Palm endemic to the Northern Territory and eastern Queensland in Australia Chinese hibiscus Hibiscus rosa sinensis an evergreen shrub native to East Asia Bougainvillea a genus of flowering plants native to South America from Brazil west to Peru and south to southern Argentina Chubut Province 4 Asteraceae daisies the second largest family of flowering plants Pelargonium a genus of flowering plants Succulent plant water retaining plants adapted to arid climate or soil conditions Events edit The Alameda Open Air Theatre was inaugurated once again on 12 April 1996 at four o clock with three bands of music playing the same number of bands as had attended 180 years before to the hour at the opening of the Alameda Gardens in 1816 In order to extend its use from just theatre to general use a number of new features were introduced like the waterfall and lake the largest area of open fresh water on the Rock with Koi Carp and a collection of exotic lilies Since its opening this venue has been used for a variety of purposes from beauty contests to band concerts also weddings dinner dances conferences and variety shows 5 It also is the main venue for the GIB Fringe The theater is available for hire and all proceeds will go directly into continued improvements in the theatre and in the rest of Gibraltar s historic and rapidly improving Alameda Gardens Useful information about the theater and its facilities Seating Capacity 435 Stage Area 120 m2 Lighting Equipment 34 Wide and Beams with colored filters if required 3 stage and 3 public entrances Bar changing rooms and toilet facilities Seating with table maximum capacity 300Gallery edit nbsp Gibraltar Botanic Gardens in 2022 nbsp Wisteria sinensis Chinese Wisteria a woody deciduous perennial climbing vine in the genus Wisteria in the gardens nbsp Castle and key set in the lawn of The Dell nbsp Wooden bridge in the Africa beds nbsp British style red telephone box nbsp An evening stroll in the 19th century at the entrance of the Alameda Gardens nbsp Duke of Wellington s memorial nbsp Whalebone archSee also editList of plants in the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Gibraltar candytuft Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park Grove Poplar avenueReferences edit Gibraltar Botanical Gardens The Alameda Government of Gibraltar Retrieved 27 November 2007 a b Welcome to the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens The Alameda Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Retrieved 27 November 2007 Special Events Gibraltar Chronicle 2001 Archived from the original on 30 October 2013 Retrieved 16 July 2013 a b c Alameda Gardens Strolling Guides accessed August 2012 a b Alameda Gardens Government of Gibraltar Archived from the original on 14 November 2012 Retrieved 11 November 2012 Alameda Gardens Archived from the original on 14 November 2013 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Official website Alameda Gardens in the site of the Government of Gibraltar Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gibraltar Botanic Gardens amp oldid 1194863124, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
