Festive fun at the botanics

After the huge success of Halloween at the Botanic Garden, which saw over 200 children and parents joining in with story telling, witches broom making and ghost walks, staff are now inviting visitors to pay a visit in the lead up to the festive season.

After a successful appeal for a Santa Claus, the Botanic Garden's Christmas Grotto will be open on the 11, 12, 18 and 19 of December. Children who come along will be able to pass on their Christmas wish list to Santa, receive an early Christmas present from him, and have their face painted. Free entry to the Garden is included in the price, so Mums and Dads can browse the range of gifts in the coffee shop whilst they wait. Christmas trees will also be on sale and the coffee shop is taking bookings for pre-Christmas lunch.

Anyone looking for Christmas gift ideas should make a trip to the Botanic Garden to see the current exhibition, MIX Botanica. With a botanical theme, the work includes jewellery, ceramics, glass, painting, prints, sculpture and more, and is all by graduates of DJCAD.

The Botanic Garden is open from 10am to 3.30pm daily.