Oxford Botanic Garden is remaining open during the coronavirus lockdown with visitors being asked to book in advance.

There is plenty of room in the garden for social distancing as staff at the attraction off High Street look forward to a special anniversary.

The botanic garden was founded 400 years ago in 1621 as a physic garden growing plants for medical research.

Oxford Mail: Felix Crombie-Moore with mum Hester for an under-fives tour in 2017 Picture: Jon LewisFelix Crombie-Moore with mum Hester for an under-fives tour in 2017 Picture: Jon Lewis

In 2013, anticipating the 400th milestone, botanic garden staff began a 400-week countdown from November 24.

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They announced they would tweet a picture of a different plant every week and publish it on their website – the plants being relevant to the season.

Dr Alison Foster, senior curator at the botanic garden, said in 2013: “The first curator at the garden was Jacob Bobart.

“Some time between 1633 and 1644 he was appointed and he started amassing the plant collection.”

By 1648 there were 1,600 plants.

Oxford Mail: Vanessa Newman working at the Botanic Garden in 2014Vanessa Newman working at the Botanic Garden in 2014

Dr Foster added: “Still here today is one of the Yew trees that was planted by Bobart.

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“The Yew tree is going to be the first in the series of 400 plants we will be publishing.”

The two-hectare site is contained to the north by the High Street, the east by the River Cherwell, to the west by Rose Lane and to the south by Christ Church meadows.

The land is mostly owned by Magdalen College, but Christ Church also owns part of the land, which the botanic garden has expanded into.

The staff also manage the university’s Harcourt Arboretum in Nuneham Courtenay.

Undergraduates studying biological sciences and related subjects at the University of Oxford visit the garden regularly.

Oxford Mail: Oxford Botanic GardenOxford Botanic Garden

Tom Price, gardens curator, said in 2013: “The Yew tree is our oldest resident, planted in 1645 by our first curator; Jacob Bobart.

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“It encompasses our role perfectly: one of heritage, beauty and conservation. “The leaves from this species are now used to produce an important chemotherapy drug for the treatment of secondary cancer.”