Garden of Deadly Touch

Dubbed as the most unique garden globally, Alnwick (England) continues to attract a large number of tourists annually due to its educational significance.

Exploring England: Journey into the Garden of Death

Alnwick Gardens, located adjacent to the castle of the same name in Northumbria, England, welcomes daring visitors to the realm of over 100 of the world's most dangerous plant species. Known as the poisonous garden, Alnwick surprisingly boasts an appealing appearance with meticulously trimmed lush greenery. There have been instances of visitors fainting upon arrival, hence everyone who visits must strictly adhere to the rule of not smelling or touching any of the plants in the garden.

Alnwick Castle was once the darkest spot in northern England. However, it's the eerie yet ancient appearance that turned this place into an ideal filming location for the popular Harry Potter series. Previously abandoned and neglected, the gardens adjacent to Alnwick Castle saw new life when Jane Percy became the Duchess of Northumberland in 1995. She aimed to transform the area into a garden, but instead of planting typical English countryside flora, she decided to sow fear, passion, and a touch of morbidity.

Jane Percy shared with Smithsonian: 'If you want to create something special, a place that visitors come to and can't forget, then it has to be unique.' The idea came to Percy during a trip to Italy. Here, she had the opportunity to visit the famous poisonous garden of the Medici family in Padua, where she was introduced to the most dangerous plant species in the plant kingdom, plants that kill instead of healing. 'It's fascinating to know how a plant can kill you, how you die, and what it feels like before you die,' the Duchess said.

From that concept, the poisonous garden opened its doors in 2004 and currently attracts around 800,000 visitors annually. Visitors can come to observe over 100 poisonous plant species, but they are not allowed to stand too close, explore the accompanying history and legends. To care for these plants, gardeners must wear gloves and be extremely careful when tending to them.

Especially dangerous plants will be prevented from the outside by iron fences and guarded day and night. Among them are plants where just one small seed is enough to kill a person. When visiting, tourists will be provided with a detailed guidebook about the plant species as well as their hazards, helping visitors recognize and avoid poisonous plants that may appear in the natural world.

In addition, the garden is also licensed to grow marijuana, cocaine, magic mushrooms, as well as opium and tobacco plants. “The goal of the garden is to bring educational significance to children. Here, they will hear about horrific stories and painful deaths, while also being warned about the consequences of drug use,” the Duchess said.

According to Vnexpress

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour