An historic greenhouse which has stood in one of Birmingham’s largest parks for decades is being torn down.
Visitors to Cannon Hill Park were stunned to see the once elegant tropical hothouses, which have been home to rare and unusual plants for generations, being dismantled by workmen this week.
Council parks officials have taken the decision after years of neglect made the greenhouses too expensive to repair, maintain and even run.
They have also become a health and safety risk, literally set to crumble. Park officials will create a garden in their place, using the handful of plants from the hothouses which can grow in the British climate and new plants.
The tropical plants have now been transported to greenhouses at Kings Heath Park and Cofton Nursery.
City benefactor Louisa Ryland donated 57 acres of her land to the city to create Cannon Hill Park in 1873 and it is believed the first of the greenhouses were built using her legacy.
A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: “Plans to dismantle the tropical greenhouse and replace it with a new sub-tropical garden at Cannon Hill Park have been in the pipeline for some time.
“The improvement work has begun this week, with many of the plants relocated to a temporary support house while plans are developed for a new sub-tropical garden.
“The more hardy species housed within the tropical greenhouse will remain in their existing location.”
He added that a temporary worker employed in the park to tend the greenhouse plants has left the parks service recently.
