Physic Garden, Edinburgh Zoo

The Physic garden is a themed courtyard enclosed by a new interpretation centre and marmoset house as Phase 2 of the Darwin Centre at Edinburgh Zoo. (Phase 1 included the award winning Darwin Maze). It houses a unique collection of plants, mostly British natives, used in veterinary medicine. Plants are grouped according to their use in categories such as bladder and kidney, bowels, heart and blood, liver, lungs and pulmonary, skin, skeleton and stomach. The design of the garden is based on a journey through the body, with the path routing visitors passed the interpreted plant groups. It widens in the “stomach shaped” centre to a sunny sitting area where visitors can and rest appreciate the many and varied flowering and aromatic trees, shrubs and herbs.

The garden designed by Ann Nevett Landscape Architects in association with Colin Wren Curator of Horticulture at Edinburgh Zoo was featured on BBC Scotland’s television programme The Beechgrove Garden on 21st September 2001.