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Plant scientist Dr Stephen Harris gives an illustrated history of the oldest surviving botanic garden in Britain, Oxford Botanic Garden – holder of one of the world’s oldest scientific plant collections.

Conceived during a period of early 17-century optimism as a place to grow medicinal plants, born in the turmoil of civil war and nurtured during the restoration of the monarchy, the garden has a curious past. Throughout its history, it has adapted to its environment: an environment created by its physical location within a city; the social, scientific, economic conditions of the day; and the interests of the garden’s stewards. It was a botanical beacon in the late 17th century and all but suffocated by the end of the 18th century, until the flame was reignited in the early 19th century.

Harris is Druce Curator of Oxford University Herbaria.

Presented by the Bodleian Libraries.