The Rock Garden is a modest but appealing ornamental feature set within Bournemouth's Lower Gardens, just inland from the pier and seafront. Here, terraced stonework and a run of small waterfalls trace the path of the Bourne stream, forming a quiet, sheltered corner within the wider gardens, one that's easy to overlook if you're making straight for the beach, but worth the small detour.
History
The rockery dates from the interwar redevelopment of the Lower Gardens, the same period that saw the neighbouring Pavilion built and much of the layout still recognisable today take shape. Ornamental rock features and small cascades were added along the garden-facing side of the Pavilion as part of these 1920s and 1930s improvements, giving this section of the gardens its distinctive terraced, planted look.
Visiting
Like the rest of the Lower Gardens, the Rock Garden has open access and costs nothing to visit, there are no gates and no set opening times. It forms part of a Grade II listed public park that also includes the Pine Walk bandstand, an aviary and a mini-golf course, all within five minutes' walk of the shops, the beach and the pier.
For more nearby green space, see the neighbouring Lower Gardens and Central Gardens, or explore further in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.
