Alnwick Poison Garden
The Alnwick Poison Garden is one of the many public gardens
attached to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England. The castle itself
is the second largest in Great Britain. The Alnwick Poison Garden
boasts some of the world's most dangerous plants, hence the name. Behind
big black gates, the carefully curated garden contains about 100
varieties illegal narcotics including poppies, which are used to make
opium, the poisonous Atropa belladonna (also known as deadly
nightshade), Strychnos nux-vomica (used to make strychnine), Coca (from
which cocaine is produced), hemlock (used to kill Socrates), cannabis
and more.
Although the Poison Garden is a recent addition, the
history of the Alnwick Gardens goes back to 1750, following centuries
old tradition of botanical interest in poisonous and toxic plants. The
gardens have a long history under the Dukes of Northumberland, but fell
into disrepair after World War 2.
The current Duchess of
Northumberland decided to revamp the gardens when she became mistress of
Alnwick Castle. The project began around 2000, but she did not begin
the Poison Garden until five years later. Inspired by the garden near
Padua, Italy which was once used by the Medici's to find better ways to
kill their enemies, the Duchess decided to build a garden that was
filled with narcotic, poisonous and deadly plants. The initial design
included some medicinal plants, but she had them removed to maintain the
concept of the Poison Garden.
Guests
who visit the Alnwick Poison Garden are led by guides who teach them
about the plants and about drug abuse prevention. The drug abuse
prevention message stems from the plants that reside in the Poison
Garden. No touching, no sniffing and no cutting is allowed. To keep
curious children away from the plants, signs pronouncing 'These Plants
May Kill' are placed at the gates.
The Poison Garden at Alnwick
Gardens is on around the clock surveillance for the safety of the public
and would be thieves. Some of the plants are even kept in specially
fenced areas to avoid accidental poisoning or theft of the plants for
use in making narcotics. The message at the Poison Garden is anti-drug,
so it is of the utmost importance that the plants there be used to
educate the public, not harm people.
Cannabis
sativa plant, grown with permission at the Poison Garden. There is a
humorous warning against its illegal use in the cage
