If you’re planning a summer jaunt from the Middle East to the UK, we’ve found perhaps the most beautiful–and deadly–spot to add to your list.
Located in Northumberland, England, The Poison Garden is a beautiful yet deadly tourist attraction as it features beautiful plants. Not to be compared to Dubai’s Miracle Garden, this garden will literally take your breath away as every plant can kill you.
Arguably the most popular section within The Alnwick Garden due to its unique ‘world’s deadliest’ selling point, this poisonous garden is sealed behind black iron gates displaying a skull and crossbones design, along with the words “these plants can kill you”. Simply smelling, touching or tasting any of the plants is incredibly dangerous.
Who decided to open such a dangerous garden? Well The Duchess of Northumberland as she wanted to move away from the usual herb gardens by having a unique poison garden. We have to admit, it is a much more interesting concept as it arouses our curiosity.
There are nearly 100 plants in this garden that are either toxic, intoxicating or narcotic. As you make your way through dark ivy-shaped tunnels, one of the plants you’ll see are the pretty blue Monkshood flowers which has a deadly stem and leaves as well as producing deadly berries. Then there’s the Laurel which produces cyanide, which was used as a chemical weapon during World War I. You definitely don’t want to touch Giant Hogweed as it will burn your skin and leave blisters for up to seven years.
The staff have to go to the extreme of wearing hazmat suits in order to look after some of the more potent plants which are kept within giant cages.
You’d think that this garden is filled with incredibly rare plants from exotic locations but quite a lot of them are probably growing in your garden at home right now. Head Gardener Trevor Jones states that “They’re very common plants. In fact, a lot of them are what we call cottage garden plants and they’re grown in many people’s gardens but people don’t know how harmful they actually are.”
In order to enter the garden, you must be accompanied by a tour guide for your safety as some people have fainted after inhaling the fumes while walking around.
Esquire now has a newsletter – sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox.
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Esquire Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @esquiremiddleeast Instagram and Twitter account.
