That’s Strange - Killer Plants of Alnwick Poison Garden

Yes, that’s true and a phrase like- ‘Looks can be deceptive’ is most befitting when I refer to the famed gardens of Northumberland in England.

 

Seldom, do you come across a beautiful park gleaming with neat foliage dotted with brightly coloured flowers to be ‘locked’. And locked not because it is being renovated or has restricted entry but because this gorgeous ground known as Alnwick Poison Garden houses a collection of plants that can actually kill you! Now, isn’t that strange? Well-guarded by a solid black gate and a danger symbol at the centre (of skull and cross bones), this garden comes with a statutory warning at its entrance - ‘These Plants Can Kill’.

 

History Says

Yet as they say, a forbidden fruit appears sweeter; this garden is a fancy for many travellers who are keen to discover the greener pasture and its deadly creatures. A brainchild of the Duchess of Northumberland who wished to dedicate a place exclusively to narcotic and deadly species of flora, this garden was constructed in the year 2005. A strange thought then, it wasn’t easy for her to bring all that is deadly together. Hence, special permits along with a set of instructions were issued by the government.

 

Inside the Fatal Garden

Home to over 100 species of fatal plants, the variety of flora at this garden will indeed astonish you. Ranging from notorious plant species like cannabis, magic mushrooms and poppies to unknown (and fatal) variety like Atropa belladonna, Strychnos nux-vomica and Conium maculatum; this garden can be toured in the company of an experienced guide. Echoes of- ‘Do not touch and definitely avoid smelling them’, will be heard often as you take the tour. As if that wasn’t enough, some highly toxic varieties of plants are protected in an iron cage thereby assuring that no one tries to come closer. To avoid any mishap, the garden is always under 24-hour supervision.

Popular Neighbours

Neighbour to the famous Alnwick Castle (where part of the Harry Potter series was filmed), this park garners a lot of attention today owing to its strange character and a popular neighbourhood.

And after knowing all this, I’m definitely intrigued to visit this garden where touching and smelling begets doom. How about you?