Out of hours magic at the Botanic Garden
Low summer sun and warm evenings cast a magical glow over the Botanic
Garden and this summer visitors can enjoy this magical place out of
hours when the Garden stays open late on the first and third Wednesdays
of June, July and August, beginning on Wednesday 1 June. Visitors might
even be lucky enough to spot bats, the resident foxes and badgers, or a
grass snake taking an evening swim!
In response to positive feedback after last year’s trial evening
openings, and thanks to support from Corporate Friends, Mills &
Reeve, and from Renaissance East of England, the Garden is staying open
even later, until 9pm on 1 & 15 June and 6 & 20 July. On 3 and
17 August, as the nights draw in, the Garden will stay open until 8pm.
To really relax after a long day, a walking tour of the Garden’s
summer highlights is just the ticket. The one-hour tours leave the
Brookside Gate at 5.45pm prompt and take in the plants and landscapes at
their best. Tickets are limited and available at the Brookside Gate at
£3 each (plus normal Garden admission).
The Garden is delighted that the Cambridge Summer Music Festival will
be returning this year with two informal Sounds Green recitals starting
at 6.15pm on the Main Lawn and offering an hour of music for evening
visitors to stop and listen to for a while:
Sounds Green I on 20 July, starting at 6.15pm
The Lunar Sax Quartet, one of the UK’s most exciting saxophone
ensembles, will play a programme of classical and jazz music. The
quartet has an enviable reputation for creativity and virtuosity in
bringing together new works for saxophone.
Sounds Green II on 3 August, starting at 6.15pm
The Skittles Quintet, all wind instrumentalists from the Royal
Academy will treat us to a programme of works by great French composers,
complimented by some lighter music of different styles, including a
raucous finale!
Any evening perambulation should also take in the Garden Café, which
in addition to the usual delectable cakes and fair-trade drinks will be
offering a summery menu of seasonal specials, plus there are meal deals
for children and delicious picnic boxes to take away to a favourite spot
in the Garden.
The Botanic Garden stays open late ‘til 9pm on 1 & 15 June, 6 & 20 July and until 8pm on 3 & 17 August.