A Barbadian Space Bridging Locals And Tourists

Sharon Cooke is the Director of Passiflora Ltd, the managing company for Barbados’ Andromeda Botanic Gardens. As a working-class Black woman and British Barbadian, she’s identified a classism problem within Barbados’ garden culture: It prioritizes tourists and high-income earners over many locals. This concern led her to create a space for locals and tourists to share.

Originally known for its fascinating tropical plant collection, Andromeda Botanic Gardens has evolved into a sustainable, educational, and therapeutic space for visitors, setting it apart from all other gardens on the island. Cooke’s communal and innovative spirit carries the torch of Andromeda’s creator, Iris Bannochie. Bannochie created this first-of-its-kind garden in 1954 and used it to build her community and provide exotic plants to public and private gardens. She greatly enhanced the island’s horticultural heritage and Cooke’s newest addition, The Ethnobotanical Garden, is expected to do the same. 

Aligning with her promise to reconnect this unique garden to the people of Barbados, Cooke has shifted its offerings to free entry for locals, free workshops, free spaces for intimate picnics, and affordable event spaces. Tourists are welcome to pay a one-time fee of $15 US and can access the garden for the entire month. “I like gardens,” Cooke says. “Sometimes, when you visit a garden, you walk around, and it’s not enough. You wanna go again! So, I thought, why not have people pay once, and you can come as many times as you wish in a month.” Cooke and the Andromeda staff also encourage all visitors to “stay as long as they wish,” because she understands the gardens’ wellness benefits. “Gardens are therapeutic, and it’s proven now. Some cultures, such as Japan, call it forest bathing. Instead of giving people drugs, they tell them to immerse themselves in forests, parks, and greenery because of the proven effects it has on the brain.” 

Over the years, Cooke has deemed it rewarding to continue adding to Iris Bannochie’s creation. Still, when the pandemic hit, like many businesses, the Andromeda Botanic Gardens took a severe hit. Visiting numbers decreased, but that didn’t deter Sharon Cooke from debuting her most significant contribution to the Bajan community: The Ethnobotanical Garden.

The Ethnobotanical Garden was created to help promote African and Caribbean botanical knowledge by sharing their cultural uses for plants. It will also be used for future scientific applications. “Historically, everybody all over the world has used plants for all sorts of things, including food, clothing, medicine, or rituals, but African people are much closer to it. And when I think about the number of Bajans who use plants. It is amazing! The numbers should actually be higher, but that knowledge is in danger of being lost,” says Cooke. “I really want this garden to be community-focused,” Cooke continues. “In this garden, visitors will also be able to freely collect plants for personal use. It’s not a museum. So if they want to cut the plants and take them home, they can do that. For example, if someone has a cold and knows the Blue Vervain is good for colds. I’ve planted about 500 Blue Vervain in the garden and will continue to plant more. I’ll go with them and cut a bunch of Blue Vervain plants for them to use.”

In addition to the Ethnobotanical Garden, Cooke plans to open an art hub in partnership with Peter Boos – founder and chairman of the ASPIRE Foundation, to support artists and provide income options via studio time, exhibit space, and teaching areas. She’ll also be partnering with Dr. Sonia Peter, director of BERP – Biocultural Education Research Progamme, to examine diseases that affect the diaspora. A visiting researcher and Howard University graduate will also be researching the value of the Ethnobotanical Garden at Andromeda. With all that Andromeda is accomplishing, Cooke shared this as her hope for its future: “My biggest hope is that people visit the garden. That’s the thing because, nowadays, nobody knows we exist. My biggest issue is making sure the people of Barbados know about this place, so they come and take advantage of everything we’re offering. I fear we’ll open this new garden, and people won’t come.”

Andromeda Botanic Garden is one of the two largest gardens in Barbados. With an 8.5-acre plot, it carries the island’s most extensive collection of over 500 plant species and 100 tree species, all added by Iris Bannochie. “She traveled all over the world collecting plants. 90% of the ornamental plants found in Barbados were because Iris Bannochie introduced them,” Cooke tells Sepi. “She planted the East Coast Road when it was newly opened. She planted Farley Hill National Park and many of those trees you currently see around the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. I mean, she was the go-to person for plants,” Cooke added. 

Upon entering the present-day Andromeda Botanic Garden, visitors are greeted by a cascade of striking colors and lush tropical greenery. The garden is comprised of 20 different connecting gardens, including The Palm Garden, The Succulent Garden and The Bougainvillea Garden. Visitors can spot hummingbirds, butterflies, green monkeys, and other fauna throughout this site. It also houses a fish pond, a large deck for wellness workshops, a picnic area, a gift shop with an indoor lounge, local crafts, souvenirs, and a cafe with traditional Bajan favorites like fish cakes, fried fish, macaroni pie, and rum punch. The garden prioritizes organic practices, using only natural forms of fertilizer and pest control. 

Andromeda Botanic Garden is located in Bathsheba on the east coast of Barbados and is open daily, except on Christmas. Its daily hours are from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Last entrants are encouraged to “stay for as long as you wish.”