Overview:
The IBIOLI invites its members, families, friends and general public to Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens, East Wicklow, on Saturday, April 18th 2015 at 2pm, for a Free guided Tour of the gardens with a particular focus on the Spring Floral Displays.
Come and enjoy the Summer Floral Displays and historical commentary relating to these extensive gardens. At this time of year the extensive herbaceous borders and wild flower meadows are in full bloom. This is a family friendly event.
Participants meet at the Car Park, at the end of the drive to the gardens.
About Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens
Located in east County Wicklow, Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens is the centrepiece of an 18th century estate that once covered over 5000 acres (2000 ha). Seat of the Acton family for three centuries, it is now an outpost of the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin. The milder climate, higher rainfall and deeper, acidic soils of this historic Wicklow garden, provide a counterpoint to the collections at Glasnevin. The association of Kilmacurragh with the National Botanic Gardens began in 1854, when Thomas Acton inherited the estate and greatly benefited from the advice and support of Dr. David Moore and his son Sir Frederick Moore, Curators of the National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin in Dublin. Kilmacurragh provided a more advantageous situation for growing plants from the Himalaya and the Southern Hemisphere and is today famous for its conifers and calcifuges. In 1996, a 52 acre (21 ha) portion of the old demesne comprising the house, arboretum, entrance drive and woodlands officially became part of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. By then the house was in ruins due to a series of disastrous fires. The following ten years were spent rescuing valuable trees from a crippling tangle of cherry laurel, sycamore and Rhododendron ponticum. (from National Botanic Gardens Web site, www.botanicgardens.ie).
Getting to Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens
The gardens are located south of Dublin in east Wicklow, just 3km from the N11 road, between Wicklow town and Rathdrum. If driving South from Dublin on the N11, you need to turn right at the Beehive pub, which lies c.3 km after the second junction to Rathnew/Wicklow, this is also c.1km South of where the dual carriageway turns to single carriageway. Keep to the main route, and you will find the entrance on your left after 5 km. If driving FROM the south on the N11, take the first left after Lil Doyles, a bit less than a kilometre further on, at The Tap pub. Drive c. 2 1/2 km to a T-junction and turn left. The arboretum is 300m on your left. If driving from Rathdrum, leave the village on the R752, signposted as Deputys’ Pass. After 4km turn right and after a further 2.5km you will come to a T-junction. Turn right and the arboretum is on your left after c. 1km.
GPS users
- either use the Garmin loc8 system with this code: SLP-21-LP9
- or input the following latitude 52.9341 and longitude -6.1529.
