Review of the Alnwick Garden excursion. The Alnwick Garden is a complex of formal gardens adjacent to Alnwick Castle. The gardens have a long history under the Dukes of Northumberland but fell into disrepair until revived at the turn of the 21st century. The garden now features various themed plantings designed around a central water cascade. The first garden was laid down in 1750 by the 1st Duke of Northumberland. The 3rd Duke was a plant collector, and led a century of development at Alnwick - he brought seeds from over the world, and pineapples were raised in hothouses. In the middle of the 19th century, the 4th Duke created an Italianate garden featuring a large conservatory, and at the end of the century the gardens were at their grandest with yew topiary, avenues of limes and acres of flowers. The Poison Garden forms part of the Alnwick Garden. A garden featuring intoxicating and poisonous plants was added in February 2005. Species of the Poison Garden include Strychnos nux-vomica (source of strychnine), Hemlock, Ricinus communis (source of harmless castor oil but also deadly ricin), Foxglove, Atropa belladonna (commonly called Deadly Nightshade), Brugmansia and Laburnum. The mission of the Poison Garden also includes drug education, with featured plantings of cannabis, coca and the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum); Alnwick, UK 2019. Shots were taken with GoPro Hero 7 Black 2.7K downsized to 1080p HD
