The first Physic Garden in Britain Botanic Garden Oxford was set up at Oxford University in 1621 with five thousand pounds given by Henry Danvers (later to become the Earl of Danby). Five thousand pounds was a huge sum of money in 1621 – the equivalent of three million pounds today. Danby had been an undergraduate at Christ Church and had subsequently served in the Army and the Navy.

The 25th July 2021 marks 400 years of botanical research and teaching by the University of Oxford.

As a celebration and count-down to this anniversary, the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum, together with the Oxford University Herbaria and the Department of Plant Sciences, is highlighting 400 plants of scientific and cultural significance here…

A fascinating highlight of the wonderful and varied plants to be found at both the Botanic Garden in Oxford and Harcourt Arboretum.

Both The Oxford Botanic Garden and Harcourt Arboretum can be included in a guided tour of Oxford.