Cambridge experts recreate 336-year-old garden to commemorate ‘father of natural history’
Summary
Experts at Cambridge’s Trinity College recreated a 336-year-old garden originally planted by John Ray, a 17th-century botanist known as the "father of natural history." The garden, located near an apple tree linked to Isaac Newton, includes plants Ray studied and highlights biodiversity and climate resilience.Key Facts
- John Ray was a botanist and tutor at Cambridge in the 1650s and is called the father of natural history.
- Ray created his first known garden at Trinity College and documented many plants in a book published in 1660.
- Gardeners used a 1690 engraving and Latin translations of Ray’s text to decide which plants to grow.
- The recreated garden includes approximately 700 types of plants Ray tried to grow, focusing on drought-tolerant, pollinator-friendly species.
- Plants in the garden include wood avens, betony, golden rod, pasqueflower, and moth mullein.
- The garden is located by an apple tree famous for inspiring Isaac Newton.
- Soil tests under the garden found signs of Newton’s former chemical laboratory.
- The garden project commemorates the 400th anniversary of John Ray’s birth in 2025.
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