DURHAM University is set to reopen the grounds of its Botanic Garden to the public in January, ending a nine-month closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Covering 24 acres, the garden is set in beautiful mature woodlands on the southern outskirts of Durham and offers a wide variety of landscapes to explore and discover. It usually attracts around 80,000 visitors per year.

It has been closed to the public since March, although University students and staff have been allowed to visit since September to enjoy outdoor exercise.

The garden will reopen to the public on Monday January 11 and, to thank the public for their continuing support, entry will be free until the end of March.

Public opening times will be Monday to Friday, 10am to 2.30pm. University students and staff can access the Garden from Monday to Friday, 9am to 3.30pm. The Visitor Centre, toilet facilities, greenhouses and bird hide will remain closed.

Head gardener Mike Hughes said: “We’re very excited to be welcoming visitors back to the Botanic Garden from January. We’ve been hard at work in the nine months since we closed, so visitors can look forward to plenty to explore and enjoy.”

During the closure, Mr Hughes has been helping friends and supporters keep in touch with how the garden has changed through a popular daily photo blog, which now runs to thousands of beautiful images.

Each day, Mr Hughes has entertained readers with new photographs and supporting botanical information. He plans to end the blog over the Christmas period, ahead of the garden reopening.

He said: “It’s been great to be able to keep in touch with friends and regular visitors during these long months through the blog. I’ve been amazed at its popularity.

“I’m grateful for everyone’s support, and I know many readers are very much looking forward to seeing the garden for real, rather than only through my photos.”

The Botanic Garden has a thriving Friends group, which provides both financial and physical support for its work. Members are working on next year’s programme of activities, which will be announced early in the New Year.

The University’s first Botanic Garden opened in 1925. It has been on its current site since 1970. It was created primarily for teaching and research. A Visitor Centre was added in 1988.

For more information visit: www.durham.ac.uk/botanic.garden.