West End resident, Alisha Cobban, shares her thoughts on the Botanic Gardens.
Located in the West End of Glasgow, near Byres Road, The Glasgow Botanic Gardens is a place to be enjoyed by everyone. With Valentines Day coming up, the gardens are a perfect place to go on a date and not have to spend money, entry to the gardens is free as well as Kibble Palace. All year round, the gardens host events. Most recently Itison hosted a dinosaur themed ‘Glasglow’ event which had giant dinosaur animatronics and a series of light shows, as well as a lot of marshmallows to roast around the campfire.
Unfortunately, The Botanic Tea Rooms are closed until March, however, there is a small takeaway café at the main entrance which is perfect for getting a coffee to take around.
Here is a list of the best things to do in the gardens:
Bird and Squirrel feeding
There is nothing better than feeling at one with nature, however feeding wild animals should always be done with care and washing your hands after is a must (there are free toilets in the gardens). Bringing a packet of nuts or seeds on the grounds will make you feel like the king of the jungle, the botanic pigeons and squirrels aren’t afraid of humans and will come right up to you, which is actually quite sweet. The small takeaway café van at the entrance also sells porridge oats for a low price, if you haven't brought anything of your own to feed the wildlife with.
A tour of Kibble Palace and the Glass House
The Kibble Palace and Glass House provide a range of flowers, plants and trees. Some of them you have most likely never heard of. There are also information signs throughout that tell you all about the plants and where they are from, not only that but there are also signs in the Kibble Palace that give historical background to the gardens. Beautiful sculptures can be seen through the palace and a beautiful variety of koi fish to watch, pondering your thoughts.
Walks and trails
There are a number of self-led trails throughout the garden with points of interest that take you down to Kelvin Walkway and the Arboretum. For kids and another curious beings, there is also a variety of signs that show different kinds of wildlife to look out for e.g. birds, worms, types of trees etc.
The Dogs of Glasgow
You may notice that the West End is a very dog-friendly place, shops on Byres Road even allow dogs to enter without having to be a guide dog. For avid dog walkers especially, the gardens are a wonderful place to walk your dog, however, in certain areas, dogs should be kept on a lead to care for the wildlife that live there.
Are you a dog person but don’t have a dog of your own, but wish you could go on dog walks? The app, Borrow My Doggy, is perfect for owners and borrowers to get to know people and dogs. You could be taking different dogs for walks whenever suits you and the owner. In the West End, the number of dogs and owners on the app is very high, so you could be walking a dog in the Botanic Gardens any time. It is a lovely way to get out of the house more, and a way to help clear the mind if you’ve had a stressful week. With a loving canine companion and a walk in the wildlife, Borrow My Doggy could be the perfect app for you.
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