The Flower Forest

The Flower Forest occupies fifty acres of a former sugar plantation at around three hundred metres in the central hills, planted from 1983 with tropical trees, palms, heliconias, gingers and flowering shrubs on a hillside that falls away toward the east coast. A path of about a mile loops through it, mostly gentle, with benches at intervals and views out to Mount Hillaby, the island's highest point, and beyond to the Atlantic. Green monkeys and hummingbirds are common. It is deliberately less curated than Andromeda, with more of the feel of a forest walk than a collection.

History

The gardens stand on the old Richmond Plantation, a sugar estate redeveloped in the 1980s as a botanical and tourist garden by a group including Don Hill, Will Huey, Bertie Graham, Richard Coghlan, who laid out the grounds of the Sandy Lane Hotel, and Peter Gilkes. In 2009 David Spieler bought the gardens from the founding shareholders, and they remain privately owned (Wikipedia, Flower Forest).

The main sights

• The mile-long loop - through planted forest on a hillside.
• The Atlantic view - east over the Scotland District from the upper paths.
• Green monkeys and hummingbirds - common through the grounds.
• Heliconias and gingers - the strongest part of the planting.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. Mornings are coolest and best for monkeys. The paths are gentle by comparison with Andromeda, and part of the route is accessible. Two hours covers it.

What to expect

It is a pleasant walk rather than a botanically important collection, and visitors who have seen Andromeda may find it thinner. Paths are gentler but still hilly. Maintenance varies. Cruise groups arrive in the middle of the day.

Nearby

Harrison's Cave is ten minutes; Welchman Hall Gully is nearby.

Key facts