Cambridge University Botanic Garden is a unique 40-acre site housing a living collection of plants for research and teaching use by the University of Cambridge. Laid out in 1846 to demonstrate relationships between major plant groups, the Garden today is home to 8,000 species from all around the world, including 2,000 trees which provide year-round interest.

In this guide the Director, Professor Beverley Glover, introduces the reader to some of the highlights in the Botanic Garden's collection. These include majestic trees and beautiful flowers, but also some rare and vulnerable species that might otherwise escape notice. She sets the scene for the Garden's foundation and history through its original map, and showcases some of its modern landscapes and horticultural set pieces. Throughout the guide she emphasises the enormous role that the Botanic Garden plays in modern scientific research, and explains some of the key breakthroughs of recent years.