The Sir Joseph Banks Conservatory – A Tranquil Tropical Haven

Apr 26, 2011
Vicki Dennison

A Variety of Plants are on View - Photo: Vicki Dennison

Sir Joseph Banks was a renowned botanist, contributing to the collection at Kew Gardens, and has a conservatory named in his honour in Lincoln, UK.

The Sir Joseph Banks Conservatory is little known among the tourist attractions of Lincoln, UK, yet it is a wonderful, tranquil place, offering a valuable experience to everyone from keen botanists and plant lovers to families with young children.

Sir Joseph Banks

Sir Joseph Banks (1743 - 1820) was a botanist who travelled the world, seeking out new plant species to bring back to his home country of England. He was born in London, and studied at Oxford University. Sir Joseph was also a special advisor for the royal botanical gardens at Kew in London, and was a long-standing president of the Royal Society.

The Sir Joseph Banks Conservatory

Situated within the grounds of The Lawn complex in Lincoln, the Sir Joseph Banks Conservatory is close to the better-known tourist attractions of the city, such as the castle and cathedral, yet is often overlooked by visitors and locals alike despite being free to enter. The traditional glass conservatory, with its white painted metal framework, is an impressive building, and provides a focal point at the centre of the formal park land surrounding it.

The conservatory is accessed through a small shop that sells a range of garden ornaments, and in itself can provide an interesting few moments of browsing the items on sale, such as ceramic plant pots, lanterns and wind chimes, without the visitor feeling pressured to make a purchase.

Plants and Flowers

The conservatory houses a range of tropical plants, which thrive in this hot house environment. The collection brings together plants from around the globe, with specimens native to Australia being particularly well represented, as this is a country that Sir Joseph Banks voyaged to on his many plant-collecting expeditions.

Water Features and Fish

Part of the appeal of this conservatory is the wonderful water features, and the fish awaiting feeding (fish food can be purchased for children to feed these beautiful creatures). The sound of gently running water adds to the calming effect of the space. There are also several bridges crossing the pools, which offer wonderful vantage points for observing the brightly coloured Coy Carp, with their impressive black, gold, white and orange scales shimmering as they glide beneath the surface of the water.

Relax and Enjoy This Tropical Haven

This wonderful space offers a refuge from the day-to-day goings-on of the world around you. It is a true sanctuary. Visitors are free to take a seat at one of the tables within the conservatory, and to read a book, do a crossword, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, or just soak up the atmosphere.