Botanical garden in Gibraltar
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.
History
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]
In 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
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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
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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
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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 m
2
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
Gallery
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See also
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References
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External links
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