Ventnor Botanic Garden

Ventnor Botanic Garden shows what can grow outdoors in Britain's mildest corner. The garden sits in the south-facing Undercliff landslip on the Isle of Wight coast, where the climate is closer to the Mediterranean and frosts are usually short and light. The garden says it is on average around five degrees warmer than the mainland, which lets plants grow outside here that would need glass almost anywhere else.

The planting is arranged by geographical region, so as you walk you move from one part of the world to another, with temperate and subtropical trees and shrubs from many continents. Look for the Palm Garden, opened in 2005, and the Chusan palms, Trachycarpus fortunei, that date from the late 19th century and are the oldest outdoor-grown palms in the UK. The palm collection gained National Plant Collection status in 2021. A large greenhouse grows tropical plants, with a heated pool showing the giant water lily in summer, surrounded by Egyptian blue lotus.

Gardeners in mild coastal areas will find this especially useful, but anyone can learn from how the plants are chosen to cope with shallow alkaline soil and salt winds. The site is dog friendly with dogs on a lead, most routes are wheelchair friendly, and The Plantation Room café serves a varied menu. There are holiday lets on site, and the coastal path and Steephill Cove are close by.