A presentation for a seminar study day in Spain, describing the designing and construction of a rock garden in England.

1. 22/09/2021
The Alan King Alpine Garden
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A ROCK GARDEN
AT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS (UK)

2. 22/09/2021
The area is located by the northern boundary of the
Birmingham Botanical Gardens (UK)
The area is about half an acre.
Issues:
- Lack of a sense of place
- Close to the road traffic and noise
Opportunities:
- Presence of an existing alpine glasshouse
- Proximity with the Study Centre building
- Interesting planting available for re-use
El área está ubicada en el límite norte de los
Jardines Botánicos de Birmingham (Reino Unido)
El área mide aproximadamente medio acre.
Problemas:
- Falta de sentido del lugar
- Cerca del tráfico rodado y del ruido
Oportunidades:
- Presencia de un invernadero alpino existente
- Proximidad con el edificio del Centro de estudios
- Plantación interesante disponible para su
reutilización
Location

3. 22/09/2021
The pre-existing area
The area was traditionally know as the “AlpineYard”.
The continuous changes of function and planting (from Model Gardens, to a Rose Garden, to the Alpine
Yard) brought to a rather conflictual and not-defined space, lacking cohesion and identity.
La zona se conocía tradicionalmente como el “Alpine Yard” (patio alpino).
Los continuos cambios de función y plantación (de Model Gardens, a Rose Garden, al Alpine Yard)
llevaron a un espacio bastante conflictivo y no definido, sin cohesión e identidad.

4. 22/09/2021
- Lack of botanical theme and identity.
- Stratification of too many hard-landscaping materials.
- Poor accessibility.
- Falta de identidad y temática botánica.
- Estratificación de demasiados materiales de jardinería
duros.
- Poca accesibilidad.
Problems

5. 22/09/2021
- Several beautiful plants available (especially alpines,
European Mediterranean and Turkey).
- Presence of historical Wisteria floribunda by boundary
wall.
- Presence of useful rocks (limestone and tufa).
- Presence of a Hartley Botanic glasshouse.
- Varias plantas hermosas disponibles (especialmente
alpinas, mediterráneas europeas y turcas).
- Presencia de Wisteria floribunda histórica .
- Presencia de rocas útiles (calizas y toba).
- Presencia de un invernadero de Hartley Botanic.
Opportunities

6. 22/09/2021
• Raise the profile of BBG as a serious botanical institution;
• Provide a new visitor attraction, introducing the public to novel aspects of alpine plant cultivation and display;
• Create a new area where alpine plants will find a representation of national relevance to both the amateur
and the professional alpine enthusiast.
• Be a very useful area and features on which to base publicity initiatives;
• Provide ease of access from the south-western area of the Gardens to the Terrace for all visitors (including
disabled) and for horticultural usage by the horticultural team.
Vision and Goals

7. 22/09/2021
We tried to look at the area as a tabula rasa.
Not be constrained and tied by the pre-existence, but immagine a
whole new scenario for growing plants in the best possible way.
Intentamos considerar el área como una tabula rasa.
No estar limitado y atado por la preexistencia, sino imaginar un
escenario completamente nuevo para cultivar plantas de la mejor
manera posible.
Designing

8. 22/09/2021
- Remove the existing hard-landscaoing materials.
- Dig out the planting and store it in the nurseries
facilities or reusing it in other parts of the Gardens.
- Eliminate what is not necessary.
- Retire los materiales duros de jardinería existentes.
- Excave la plantación y guárdela en las instalaciones
de los viveros o reutilícela en otras partes de los
Jardines.
- Elimina lo que no sea necesario.
Pars destruens

9. 22/09/2021
The first project was the construction of the new ‘’Churcher’’ Alpine Glasshouse.
Built with perfect allignment to the old ‘’Hartley’’ Alpine Glasshouse.
El primer proyecto fue la construcción del nuevo invernadero alpino "Churcher".
Construido con una alineación perfecta con el vejo invernadero alpino "Hartley".
Pars costruens: a new glasshouse

10. 22/09/2021
The glasshouse is internally landscaped with tufa
rocks. Two different ‘’cliffs’’ were built (Europe and
Asia).
Materials are: tufa rocks, hiperfufa cement, sand,
irrigation pipes, building blocks for internal support.
A landscape of glass and rocks

11. 22/09/2021
The glasshouse is internally landscaped with tufa rocks.
The rocks were found in the Gardens and responsabilly sorced by local suppliers.
Tufa is a type of porous limestone formed from calcium carbonate deposited by springs or the like.
El invernadero está ajardinado internamente con rocas de toba. Las rocas se encontraron en los Jardines y se
encargaron de brujería responsable por proveedores locales. La toba es un tipo de piedra caliza porosa formada a
partir de carbonato de calcio depositado por resortes o similares.
Construction of the cliffs

12. 22/09/2021

13. 22/09/2021
We built a back-up nursery for propagating and growing plants for the new Alpine Garden.
Access frames, with raised sand bed, offers the ideal condition for the cultivation of alpine plants: control of growing
conditions (ventilation, shading, roofing, constant moisture).
Construimos un vivero de respaldo para propagar y cultivar plantas para el nuevo jardín alpino.
Los marcos de acceso, con lecho de arena elevado, ofrecen las condiciones ideales para el cultivo de plantas alpinas:
control de las condiciones de crecimiento (ventilación, sombreado, techado, humedad constante).
Back-up frames and plants

14. 22/09/2021
Time for shopping

16. 60 tons Westmorland limestone rocks, coming in various sizes and textures
(boulders, medium size, brick size, 20mm gravel and 5mm gravel).
Deliveries in three phases (the last one was a very lucky donation from a private garden nearby!)
Rocks delivery

17. 22/09/2021
Ground work

18. Respect a legal gradient and requirements for disabled
accessibility.
Save the most important plant specimens for future use
in the Gardens’ areas.
Respete el gradiente legal y los requisitos de
accesibilidad para discapacitados.
Guarde los especímenes de plantas más importantes
para futuros trasplantes.
Priorities

19. Hard-core work
External contractors used a varieties of machinery and
materials.
Backfilling and levelling with MOT gravel.
Placing the rocks in a naturalistic way, creating a
landscape of tiers, ledges, screes...

26. The intention was to build naturalistic rock-scape, almost like they could have been there from always.
La intención era construir un paisaje rocoso naturalista, casi como si pudieran haber estado allí desde
siempre.
A imitation of nature

28. It was useful and necessary to study geology and how
mountains are created.
In nature, many different examples of mountainous
landscapes and rock formations exists.
• Granitic outcrops
• Subalpine thickets
• Tall meadow landscapes
• Vertically laminated outcrops
• Cuestas
• Terminal moraine
• Screes
• Protalus rampart
• Mountain ponds, waterfalls, rivers
… and more!
From the top: Granit outcrops, cuestas, scree.
Natural inspiration

29. The Tromsø Principles of Rock Gardening
1. In proximity of human constructions, use geometric lines.
2. In all the other cases, simulate nature, avoid geometric lines.
3. Think big, use some very large boulders.
4. Mix different stone sizes.
5. Create rooms and surprises by blocking views.
6. Prefer rocks with a cover of lichens and mosses.
7. Do not mix rocks of different geological origins.
8. Avoid the use of sharp-angles and rounded shapes in
combination.
9. Use free draining soil, and absolutely avoid air pockets.
10. Find suitable top dressing (gravel, grit, cobbles…)
11. For plants, avoid geometric patterns and even numbers.
12. Use modest labels (white or black) and only few interpretation.
In the pictures: the Czech and Norwegian gardeners who built
Tromso Arctic and Alpine Botanical Gardens over the last twenty
years.
The Tromsø School

30. We created 5 rocky beds or ‘’outcrops’’.
Materials: limestone rocks (various sizes), hardcore backfills, alpine growing mix, top-dressing gravels.
Creamos 5 lechos rocosos o "afloramientos".
Materiales: rocas calizas (varios tamaños), rellenos duros, mezcla de cultivo alpino, gravas de cobertura.
Definition of the rocky beds

31. In the specialist rockwork phase, we tried different formation effects. It was an exciting moment of rock fine-tuning.

32. It was finally time for the first planting and displays, starting
with the Glasshouses,Alpine Meadow, and troughs.
We had the support and advice of skilled alpine growers,
but at the end of the day all the horticultural team was
involved and it was a real team effort.
Finalmente llegó el momento de la primera plantación y
exhibición, comenzando con los invernaderos, la pradera
alpina y los abrevaderos. Contamos con el apoyo y el
asesoramiento de cultivadores alpinos capacitados, pero al
final del día todo el equipo hortícola estuvo involucrado y
fue un verdadero esfuerzo de equipo.
Initial planting

33. Finally the days for stepping back, taking the camera and
observing our work in progress.
This happened in coincidence with the first lockdown
(spring 2020) and it was somehow magical to have all the
plants for ourselves!
Finalmente los días para dar un paso atrás, tomar la
cámara y observar nuestro trabajo en progreso. ¡Esto
sucedió en coincidencia con el primer bloqueo (primavera
de 2020) y de alguna manera fue mágico tener todas las
plantas para nosotros!
Enjoyment

34. The new Alpine Garden has a geographical theme: it represents exact geographical areas and habitats.
This choice is relevant in educational, conservational and horticultural terms, especially in a botanical garden.
Decidimos darle un tema geográfico a la nueva área. Esta elección es relevante en términos educativos, de
conservación y hortícolas, especialmente en un jardín botánico.
Europe is the place

35. The geographical approach

36. Planting the rocky beds
During first lockdown in spring 2019, we mass planted the five outcrops.
Today, more than 500 species found representation and we definitely have scope for more planting and botanical diversity.

37. From the left: Narcissus asturiensis, Erinus alpinus, Sedum rupestre.
1. Iberia
Comprising Portugal, Gibraltar, Spain (Sierras, Meseta and other mountains) and the Pyrenees.
Most significant genera: Glandora & Lithodora, Cistus & Halimium, Thymus, Lavandula, Santolina, Iberis, Convolvulus,
Ononis, Erodium, Asphodelus, Antirrhinum, Catanache, Narcissus.

38. Clockwise from the left: Gentiana verna, Pulsatilla vulgaris, Leontopodium alpinum,
Dactylorhiza fuchsii.
2. Alps
This is the largest and taller outcrop, in the middle of the area.
It has arguibly the best stones.
Most significant genera: Campanula, Daphne, Gentiana, Globularia, Daphne,
Sempervivum, Phyteuma, Leontopodium, Pulsatilla, Saxifraga.

39. From the left: Clematis alpina, Edrainthus niveus, Haberlea ferdinandi-coburgii.
3. Balkans
Comprising the Balkans mountains, Greece, Crete and Malta.
Most significant genera: Ramonda and allies, Helleborus, Chamaecytisus, Edraianthus, Soldanella, Cyclamen,
Crocus, Hypericum, Origanum, Aubrieta, Petromarula.

40. From the left: Cyclamen coum, Veronica oltensis, Onosma nanum.
4. Turkey
Comprising the Turkey mountains and Cyprus.
Most significant genera: Cedrus libani and C. brevifolia (dwarf selections), Cyclamen, Fritillaria, Iris, Salvia,
Origanum, Phlomis, Astragalus, Onosma, Satureja, Verbascum, Acantholimon, Lamium, Rosularia, Aristolochia.

41. Clockwise from the left: Galanthus nivalis, Campanula zangezura,
Chiastophyllum oppositifolium.
5. Caucasus
Most significant genera: Iris, Campanula, Galanthus, Aethionema, Salvia, Paeonia, Scilla, Tulipa, Punica.

42. The Alan King Alpine Garden is the opportunity for:
- connecting with other professionals;
- inviting relevant plant societies;
- training the next generations;
- organising corporate event and donations.
El nuevo Alan King Alpine Garden es la oportunidad
para:
- conectarse con otros profesionales;
- invitar a las sociedades de plantas pertinentes;
- formar a las próximas generaciones;
- organización de eventos corporativos y donaciones.
Connections

43. The launching of the project was possible because of a large legacy from Alan King, senior member of the Alpine
Garden Society.
We are currently focusing in sourcing more financial resources from relevant associations:
The Alpine Garden Society, The Hardy Plant Society, The Finnis Scott Award, the Royal Horticultural Society, and
other relevant plant societies (such as Narcissus)
Attract further funding

44. The next step:
the Mediterranean Borders
In the northern part of the Alpine Garden, two borders located by the south-facing boundary brick wall.
They consist in: 1) the Garigue (or Phyragana) Border; 2) the Maquis Border.
We aim to display even more European Mediterranean species.

45. Concept of the Med Borders
Designing with ecological terms in mind.
We used this pocket for giving a representation of sub-alpine and montane European species, which couldn’t
represent in the rocky beds.
Reference book: “A Guide to the Vegetation of Britain and Europe” by O. Polunin and M. Walters.

46. 1. Matorral Border
The Garigue (or Phyragana, or Matorral) Border: thin, long bed; warmest part of the area; presence of
historical Wisteria floribunda; scarce landscape with tufa rocks and gravel.
Planting: 50cm high maximum.
Backbone genera: Cistus, Euphorbia, Genista, Salvia, Erica, Teucrium, Thymus, Pseudodictamnus,
Santolina, Lavandula, Asphodelus, Allium, Arum…

47. 1. Garigue Border
Left picture: the lining of historical Wisteria leads to the colour scheme of the border: yellows and pinks/purples.
That you can see so often in the Mediterranean, perhaps with Nerium and Genista species and allies.
Right picture: naturalistic hard-hardlandscaping and planting.
Top-dressing gravel and tufa boulders link with the rocky core of the area, but are distinctivelly different.

48. 2. Maquis Border
The Maquis Border: very large border more shade and moisture; larger tufa rocks; scarce gravel topdressing.
Presence here of small trees: Fraxinus ornus, Smilax officinalis, Cercis siliquastrum, Vitex agnus-castus, Cotinus
coggygria, Arbutus andrachne, Erica arborea, Quercus coccifera, Acer monspessulanum, Viburnum tinus.
Backbone genera: Juniperus, Quercus, Frangula, Rhamnus, Prunus, Pistacia, Asparagus, Teucrium, Arbutus,
Myrtus, Cyclamen…

49. What’s next?
Complete the remaining hard-landscaping work.
Improve conservation, education, plant-collecting projects.
Attract, educate and work with the local community.

50. CAMERA: Nikon D3300 18-55mm
Thanks - Gracias