Gardens that…bewilder, delight, enchant and perplex
Innovative designer gardens, beautiful wildflower meadows, a tropical butterfly house, fun experience gardens for children, a butterfly garden and much, much more…
This is just the beginning for what will become Butterfly World. Future Gardens is an annual event covering 4 months and starting in June 09, offering visitors the chance to see and appreciate how gardens mature and evolve throughout the seasons. With something for everyone, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar Garden, Future Gardens will excite, inform, educate and inspire all ages.
At the heart of the show are 12 inspirational Designer Gardens, selected to present intentionally thought-provoking ideas, whilst showing that sustainability and innovative design can be perfect bedfellows.
Located just off junction 21a of the M25 and only 30 minutes outside London, Future Gardens is set amongst 27 acres of land, which over the coming years will become home to an amazing tropical dome filled with butterflies.
designer gardens
Selected from over 100 designs, our 12 Designer Gardens offer you a rare chance to experience a totally fresh way of thinking about gardens and garden design.
Selected from over 100 designs, our 12 Designer Gardens offer you a rare chance to experience a totally fresh way of thinking about gardens and garden design.
Encouraged to come up with challenging and thought-provoking ideas, the designers have each applied their creative skills to make gardens that dare to break boundaries and so are refreshingly different.
Take a look at each of the gardens below – simply CLICK on the title – for a more detailed insight in to their stunning designs.
nest
by Jane Hudson & Erik De Maeijer – midlands
by Jane Hudson & Erik De Maeijer – midlands
the exoskeleton
by paul draycott – agave design – united kingdom
nature’s artistry – autumn’s edge
by Fiona Heron
release garden
by Michelle Wake & Chloe Leaper – Greenwave Design
narratives of nature
by Hugo Bugg & Maren Hallenga – H B Landscape Design
chalk garden
by Roger Phillips – Rogers Trees and Shrubs
anthroscape 3
by Tony Heywood – Conceptual Gardens
metamorphosis
by Peter Thomas – PTA Design
urban greening
by Andy Sturgeon
for Cosmo
by Marcus Green – Marcus Green Horticultural Design
welcome
by Rosita Castro Dominguez, Isabelle Fordin, Anomiastudio Architetture (Gianluca Nucci, Domenico Simone, Tiziano Testa)
the H garden
by Bruno Marmiroli
feature gardens
Alongside our Designer Gardens, we have permanent feature gardens and walkways designed by the visionary landscape designer Ivan Hicks, that all form part of the Butterfly World Project.
Alongside our Designer Gardens, we have permanent feature gardens and walkways designed by the visionary landscape designer Ivan Hicks, that all form part of the Butterfly World Project.
Future Gardens will take you on a fantastic journey, which will fire your imagination and encourage you to think about how you can have a bit of fun with your outside space and make a positive impact on the environment at the same time.
Perfect for all the family and garden lovers alike, explore our beautiful gardens, set amongst 27 acres, and be inspired.
Leaf Gardens
Through the Flowerpot Garden – Look at the garden through the eyes of an insect. Enter through a giant flowerpot and discover a world where everything around you is enormous! From giant plant pots, a gigantic garden fork and a huge packet of seeds. A real eye-opener for all the family.
Through the Flowerpot Garden – Look at the garden through the eyes of an insect. Enter through a giant flowerpot and discover a world where everything around you is enormous! From giant plant pots, a gigantic garden fork and a huge packet of seeds. A real eye-opener for all the family.
Spangle Gall Garden – Named after the galls left inside leaves when a wasp lays its eggs, Spangle Gall Garden lets your imagination run wild. Enjoy the magical installations scattered throughout this fantastic garden, designed to look like galls within a leaf.
Theatre of Insects Garden – Even the most unlikely household objects can be turned into something beautiful and act as a habitat for our native wildlife. Pick out objects that you would normally throw away at home and see if you can make use of them in your garden instead!
Tropical Butterfly House
A taster of what is to come over the coming years when the tropical dome is open, we have an 85ft long tropical butterfly house filled with beautiful tropical butterflies and plants. Walk through the humid environment and witness the full lifecycle of a butterfly, from eggs to caterpillar, to pupae and finally to butterfly.
British Butterfly Garden
If you’re looking for ways to attract moths and butterflies back to your garden, don’t hesitate to visit this fantastic garden. Step inside a world dedicated to butterflies and their habitat, with a sun trap, nettle patch and even a pond to entice wildlife.
If you’re looking for ways to attract moths and butterflies back to your garden, don’t hesitate to visit this fantastic garden. Step inside a world dedicated to butterflies and their habitat, with a sun trap, nettle patch and even a pond to entice wildlife.
We’ve even got a Very Hungry Caterpillar SOLARDOME situated within the garden, to view the gardens from, sit and take in the surroundings or for groups to use as a classroom or discussion area.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Edible Garden
Feast your eyes on a wealth of edible treats in our Very Hungry Caterpillar Edible Garden. In honour of Eric Carle’s world-famous childrens book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, we have created a suitably scrumptious garden to show you how to grow yummy pesticide-free vegetable and plants. Definately one for all the family!
Feast your eyes on a wealth of edible treats in our Very Hungry Caterpillar Edible Garden. In honour of Eric Carle’s world-famous childrens book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, we have created a suitably scrumptious garden to show you how to grow yummy pesticide-free vegetable and plants. Definately one for all the family!
Dame Miriam’s Nectar Garden
A respected scientist, gardener and conservationist, Dame Miriam Rothschild was a scientific advisor to the Butterfly World Project, and died in 2005, aged 96. In memory of her, we have designed this stunning nectar garden surrounded by wildflowers and filled with nectar filled plants and flowers.
A respected scientist, gardener and conservationist, Dame Miriam Rothschild was a scientific advisor to the Butterfly World Project, and died in 2005, aged 96. In memory of her, we have designed this stunning nectar garden surrounded by wildflowers and filled with nectar filled plants and flowers.
Walkways
Antennae Walkways
Shaped like the antennae (or feelers) of a butterfly, the Antennae Walkways are risen beds of chalk that look out over Future Gardens and lead to wildflower meadows. Sown with nectar-rich annuals, the raised banks aim to attract basking butterflies in the sun.
Antennae Walkways
Shaped like the antennae (or feelers) of a butterfly, the Antennae Walkways are risen beds of chalk that look out over Future Gardens and lead to wildflower meadows. Sown with nectar-rich annuals, the raised banks aim to attract basking butterflies in the sun.
Proboscis Walk
When seen from the air, the spiral path looks like the curled up mouthparts of a butterfly or moth, called a proboscis. Spiral round the walkway and take in the stunning flowers surrounding it.
When seen from the air, the spiral path looks like the curled up mouthparts of a butterfly or moth, called a proboscis. Spiral round the walkway and take in the stunning flowers surrounding it.
The Ring
Due to open over the coming years, the tropical dome will be filled with 10,000 butterflies, birds and Maya sculptures. It will be the biggest walk-through butterfly experience in the world. Until that time, we have created a very special garden in the space that will become the dome. The Ring is an enormous 100m in diameter and has a chalk butterfly in the very centre, surrounded by sunflowers that will attract butterflies and moths back to the area. It really is something to look at, and we hope it will give you a small taste of what will become Butterfly World.
Due to open over the coming years, the tropical dome will be filled with 10,000 butterflies, birds and Maya sculptures. It will be the biggest walk-through butterfly experience in the world. Until that time, we have created a very special garden in the space that will become the dome. The Ring is an enormous 100m in diameter and has a chalk butterfly in the very centre, surrounded by sunflowers that will attract butterflies and moths back to the area. It really is something to look at, and we hope it will give you a small taste of what will become Butterfly World.
visitor information
Make your visit to us as enjoyable as possible by planning ahead. Take a look below for everything you need to know about your visit. We look forward to welcoming you to Future Gardens!
Make your visit to us as enjoyable as possible by planning ahead. Take a look below for everything you need to know about your visit. We look forward to welcoming you to Future Gardens!
prices / ticket information
Tickets for Future Gardens can be purchased in advance or on the day. For advanced tickets please email [email protected]
Tickets for Future Gardens can be purchased in advance or on the day. For advanced tickets please email [email protected]
Adults £12.50
Children (under 16) £5.00
Senior/Conc (Over 60/students with valid id) £9.50
Family (2 ad/2 ch) £32.00
Groups (10+) ad £11/conc £8/ch £4.00
Children (under 16) £5.00
Senior/Conc (Over 60/students with valid id) £9.50
Family (2 ad/2 ch) £32.00
Groups (10+) ad £11/conc £8/ch £4.00
Under 3’s free
Seasonal membership available – £29 per adult, £22 per concession and £11.50 per child.
For further information please email [email protected]
For further information please email [email protected]
opening times
We are open from 5th June 2009 – 4th October 2009
9.30am – 6pm 7 days a week
We are open from 5th June 2009 – 4th October 2009
9.30am – 6pm 7 days a week
Last entry is at 5pm
facilities
Food & Drink – our on-site Garden Café offers visitors a wide selection of snacks, meals and beverages, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. All our food is prepared with non-GM ingredients.
Food & Drink – our on-site Garden Café offers visitors a wide selection of snacks, meals and beverages, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. All our food is prepared with non-GM ingredients.
We have a covered seating area for upto 150 people, with a further 100 seats in the open, and a picnic area should you want to bring your own food.
Gift Shop & Plant Sales – we have a large gift shop stocking unusual gifts, gardening products and tools and an outdoor plant sales area selling an array of plants, flowers and shrubs.
Toilets & Baby-changing facilities – toilets are located near the main entrance building, along with accessible toilets and a baby-changing facility.
educational visits
Future Gardens makes a great trip for pupils of all ages, from infants to higher education. Group rates are available for 10+ pupils and teachers/carers go free (one free adult for every 10 pupils). We even offer a free familiarisation trip for the lead teacher in order to plan your day.
Future Gardens makes a great trip for pupils of all ages, from infants to higher education. Group rates are available for 10+ pupils and teachers/carers go free (one free adult for every 10 pupils). We even offer a free familiarisation trip for the lead teacher in order to plan your day.
For further information on our education visits please contact [email protected] or call us on 01727 869203.
click here to view Education Pack
directions
By road – Exit the M25 at junction 21a and head towards the A405 towards St Albans. Take the first left had junction before the roundabout, called Noke Lane. The entrance to Future Gardens is on your right.
By foot/bicycle – there is a pedestrian and bicycle entrance to Future Gardens located along Chiswell Green Lane, or alternatively you gain access Future Gardens at the main entrance and walk along Miriam Lane, off Noke Lane.
For general enquiries please click here
To submit an application for Future Gardens 2010 please click here
To submit an application for Future Gardens 2010 please click here
Address
Future Gardens @ Butterfly World Project
Miriam Lane, off Noke Lane,
Chiswell Green,
St Albans,
Hertfordshire
AL2 3NY
Future Gardens @ Butterfly World Project
Miriam Lane, off Noke Lane,
Chiswell Green,
St Albans,
Hertfordshire
AL2 3NY
The site is located off the M25 Junction 21a. From there head towards the A405 North Orbital Road towards St Albans. After about 90m there is a left hand junction called Noke Lane. Turn into Noke Lane and then take the first right. There is parking available for both cars and coaches.
