Hope Road
New Kingston

Tel: 876-927-1085
Fax: 876-970-2459
http://www.ursainternational.org/hopezoo

The Royal Botanical Gardens at Hope, popularly called Hope Gardens serves as a national attraction and is frequented by visitors from near and far. The Hope Gardens is a part of the 2000 acres of land originally owned by Major Richard Hope from whom it got its name.Two hundred acres of this land was obtained by the Government of Jamaica in 1880 and was originally established as a plant introduction and crop-testing facility for plants such as pineapple, cocoa, coffee and tobacco. The formal Botanical Gardens were laid out on approximately 60 acres of this land with the assistance of personnel from the Kew Gardens in England. In the 1950s, the Queen, after visiting the island and being pleased with the state of the gardens, gave permission for it to be called the Royal Botaincal Gardens, Hope. The Gardens have many exotic species along with some endemic trees of Jamaica. Over the years, the ravages of hurricanes and other disasters have resulted in the loss of a significant number of species. However, there are still some prominent trees and popular sites to be viewed in the Gardens. At Hope Gardens, visitors can view a number of other features including the Coconut Museum, the Sunken Gardens, the Orchid House, the Lily Pond, the Maze and Palm Avenue.