Former known as Tropical Glen, the Tropical Ravine opened in 1889 and was then built on the site of the former orchid and propagating houses. It's a lovely place to visit, and it feels like you are entering the rain forest as soon as you open the door. A home of various plants and an original place to visit in the heart of Botanic Gardens.
Charles McKimm, was the creator of the ravine. He was at the time the head gardener in Belfast Botanic Gardens. The work begun in 1887 and has always had a Victorian style to it. It had several grottoes that was landscaped into the walls, illuminated with candles and mirrors to get a a lightning effect.
"The ravine actually holds species such as the Killarney Fern, orchid, banana, cinnamon, bromeliad and some of the world’s oldest seed plants."
In 1900 the Ravine was extended with a second section that was much warmer than the first one. It was used for tropical plants instead o temperate species. A third extension was built 1902 to install a heated pond where the water lily from South America could grow.
The Tropical Ravine has been restored between 2013 to 2018. It was being changed to how the Victorian designed the original building back in 1887, with old details being preserved. Things got modernised, red bricks and window sills restored and pathways widened - and this is just a few examples of what got added to the building.
So, how do you get here? You just enter Botanic Gardens, the park located South of Belfast. The Tropical Ravine is located in the middle of the park and is quite hard to miss. It is no entry fee, and the visit can either be a quick one or if you are interested in plants and different species, you'd probably want to stay longer. The ravine actually holds species such as the Killarney Fern, orchid, banana, cinnamon, bromeliad and some of the world’s oldest seed plants.
It is very warm, so to walk in might get you a bit confused. Luckily it's easy just to walk through the Ravine quick, if you feel it's too much wearing your winter coat, or coming in from a warm summers day.
Worth a visit? I'd say so. It's different, and if you are giving Boatnic Gardens a chance, you should together with the museum and the greenhouse give the Tropical Ravine a visit!
~ linnity