Walks+Talks: Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden was established at Tøyen in 1814. It is part of The Museum of Natural History, Oslo University.

The development of a botanical garden was part of a nation-building process in the first part of the 1800’s. The natural sciences held a strong position, botany was seen as important in the improvement of agriculture and gardening. Important objectives for The Botanical Garden have always been the use and promotion of research and education at the university. At the same time, through all its years, the garden has been a valuable green oasis for people in the city, a place to enjoy beauty and quiet and a place to learn about plant life, in Norway and in the world. The garden is a living museum and an important part of our cultural history.

Saving biodiversity – both threatened plants in the Norwegian nature and old garden plants – is an important task. The garden has 800.000 visitors a year, and as such is an important place for valuable experiences in Oslo.

Inside the garden, there are several large museum buildings for The Museum of Natural History, covering the fields of geology, zoology, botany and mycology. In addition, we are building a new Climate House, a place for research-based exhibitions and for meetings and debates. Here, we will inspire curiosity, impart knowledge and give a foundation for action and change concerning the gravest challenges of our time – climate change.

Tøyen Manor

Tøyen Manor, one of the oldest wooden buldings in the city that is still in use. This is the only building from the time prior to the establishment of The Botanical Garden. The garden administration is located here, in addition to two exhibition rooms and a café where we will have our lunch.

Red- and black-listed plants

Demonstration facility for communication on threatened Norwegian plants, parallel with invasive foreign species. This small facility is much used in the teaching of biological diversity and protection ideology.