North-west University NWU Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden

The NWU Botanical Garden is managed by the School of Environmental Sciences and Development of the North-West University and is a member of BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International). The Botanical Garden fulfills many important functions within the School for Environmental Sciences and Development and the local comunities. Key activities of the NWU Botanical Garden include:

•  Provision of practical material for the training of students
•  Conservation of rare and endangered plants
•  Research and research support
•  Education in the local communities about relevant environmental issues

Short History
The origin of the NWU Botanical Garden dates back to 1962 when Dr. W.J. Louw, a Botany lecturer, developed the garden to supply plant material for Botany practicals. With the arrival of Dr. D.J. Botha, a Botany lecturer in Taxonomy, in 1971 the impetus came to develop a botanical garden. During the 1970’s the Botanical Garden flourished under the supervision of Mr. B. Ubbink, the first curator. On 24 November 1982 the Botanical Garden was officially opened to the public by Dr. W.J. Louw. The Botanical Garden is currently enjoying a big resurgence and is definitely worth visiting.

Garden and Climate
The Botanical Garden is situated adjacent to the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. It covers an area of almost 3 hectares. Most of the plants in the Botanical Garden are indigenous with the exception of a few exotic plants which are of botanical, medicinal or educational importance. A section of the garden, around a man-made rocky-ridge, is managed as a natural field garden while the rest of the garden is more intensively managed. A variety of mammals, birds, amphibians and fish made the garden their home in recent years providing a whole new dimension to the Botanical Garden.