One of Swansea’s best-loved green spaces has turned 100.
The Botanical Gardens in Singleton Park have marked a century since they first opened to the public, with the Lord Mayor unveiling a new centenary panel to mark the milestone.
A hundred years on from opening in 1926, the gardens still draw thousands of visitors a year — a peaceful, free spot to wander, learn and spend time outdoors.
They remain one of the city’s proudest green spaces, in a council parks estate repeatedly recognised with Green Flag awards.
(Image: Swansea Council)
Penny Matthews, Lord Mayor of Swansea, said it had been a pleasure to unveil the panel celebrating 100 years.
“This is a place that has meant so much to so many people over the years, and it is wonderful to see it continuing to thrive,” she said.
She called the gardens “a real success story for Swansea and something the city can be proud of.”
A story that began long before 1926
While the gardens officially opened as the Educational Gardens in 1926, their roots run back much further.
The land was first cultivated under private ownership in 1771, with walled gardens, orchards and glasshouses developed in the early 1800s — producing fruit, vegetables and flowers and earning a name for quality.
In 1847 the Vivian family bought the estate, strengthening its place as a centre of horticulture.
Swansea Council then purchased the estate in 1919 to create public parkland, and much of Singleton Park opened to the public in 1921.
When the Educational Gardens opened five years later, they brought together plants from around the world to inform and engage visitors.
The gardens were renamed the Botanical Gardens in the 1980s and fitted with modern glasshouses.
Praised by Kew from the very start
The gardens drew admirers almost immediately. Council records from June 1926 note that the new garden had been “very much appreciated by the public.”
The parks superintendent of the day, Daniel Bliss, received letters of congratulation from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and Edinburgh, the Ministry of Agriculture and others — and the committee placed on record its “high appreciation” of his work and that of his assistant, Cyril Marks.
That tradition of horticultural care continues today, with the council’s specialist gardeners tending the site all year round.
A volunteer effort worth £400,000
For the past three decades, the gardeners have been supported by the Friends of Swansea Botanical Gardens, a volunteer-led group set up in 1993.
The Friends have raised more than £400,000 over the years — funding new planting, interpretation panels and community features, and helping keep the gardens open and free to all.
Sonja Olsen, chair of the Friends, said the group was “incredibly proud” to be part of the gardens’ story.
“Our volunteers have given their time over many years to support improvements and keep the gardens looking at their best,” she said.
“This milestone is a chance to celebrate that work and to look ahead so the gardens continue to flourish for future generations.”
Andrew Williams, the council’s cabinet member for development, said the anniversary highlighted the history and heritage of the city’s parks.
He said the gardens played an important role in a wider vision of “creating welcoming places that support wellbeing, learning and a strong sense of community.”
The Botanical Gardens remain free to enter and open year-round in Singleton Park.
