Over 200 acres of prime land in Kingston belong to Hope Royal Botanic Gardens, Jamaica’s largest public green space and the largest botanic garden in the English-speaking Caribbean.
Over the years, Hope Gardens has faced an ongoing battle for survival, but despite all the struggles, lack of funding, and the current booming property market in Kingston, the beautiful Hope Gardens are still here! Why does this garden exist against all odds?
► Register for Race for Hope 2025 and support Hope Gardens
► Diaspora? Support Hope Gardens here:
https://spurropen.com/HopeGardensJa
► Learn more about Race for Hope:
https://www.raceforhopejm.com/
► Visit the official Hope Gardens website:
► Like this video? Support our media work on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/jamaicawithirie
🔴 REFERENCES
► Pacers Running Club
https://www.pacersrunningja.org/
► Jamaica Institution of Engineers (Jamaica Institute of Engineers)
► Save Hope Gardens (1999-2000 archive).
The details of the controversial project with a housing scheme development in Hope Gardens (the Hope Country Club), 1999-2000, articles and research by John Maxwell.
https://savehopegardens.tripod.com/
🔴 ARCHIVES
► Newspaper Archive
https://newspaperarchive.com/
Stories mentioned:
A Plan For Hope Gardens’ RestorationThe Daily Gleaner, 16 July 1968 (p.3)
Whither Hope Gardens?
The Gleaner, 10 November 1999 (p.4)
Architects Want Hope Gardens Restored
The Gleaner, 18 November 1995 (p.22)
The Hope Country Club
The Gleaner, 16 December 1999 (p.25)
Hope Garden Issues Revisited
The Gleaner, 17 December 1999 (p.26)
Public Respond to Controversial Hope Housing Development
The Gleaner, 23 December 1999 (p.4)
Archive Footage: Hope Gardens in the 1950s
🔴 CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Hope Gardens
02:07 About Hope Gardens
03:08 Things to do in Hope Gardens
04:10 Owners – Nature Preservation Foundation
04:43 Source of Funding
05:36 Hope Gardens Plant Nursery
06:39 Hope Gardens Endemic House
08:16 Operating Hope Gardens
09:37 What is Race for Hope?
10:16 Race for Hope Origins
12:37 Hope Gardens was ALMOST LOST!14:30 Unique Footage: Night and Sunrise16:48 Pacers Running Club
18:27 Register for Race for Hope
35 Comments
ℹLooking for the link to register for Race for Hope 2025? Here it is!
https://www.runningeventsja.com/registration/?event=RFH2025
ℹDiaspora? Support Hope Gardens here:
https://spurropen.com/HopeGardensJa
ℹMore information about Hope Gardens:
https://hrbg.org.jm/
https://www.raceforhopejm.com/
🔎Archive on how Hope Gardens were almost lost:
https://savehopegardens.tripod.com/
Tanks to Mr. Maxwell of dih Gleaner, who spear headed dih effort yo save Hope Gardens.
Irie, You captured Hope Gardens magnificently, it’s come alive, thank you for spreading the new, dynamic Hope Gardens.
Another WOW !!! Thanks Irina for continually highlighting these GEMS of Jamaica
Why should every space be a CONCRETED Jungle😢😢😢😢
Where will the children PLAY 😮😮😮
Shhhhh 🤫. Please don’t say that it's owned by the government of Jamaica. Wi fraid sey dem a gu sell it off to some foreign entity.
Mi grandparents were caretaker for government chemistry and research councils back in the sixty. I and mi cousin run up down and through the property. As a child I full joy the time growing up there with mi family when we visited in summer holidays. Jah love guidance and protection always. One love Jah love ❤.
They should make the school kids volunteer hours here.
https://youtu.be/qm23Ge4MZq0?si=JeaEhVurlQEZH5qS
Well done sharing this information. I grew up in Jamaica but never knew this history. What a beautiful place ❤ I will visit the garden next time I go to Jamaica.
I love hope gardens, still yet to take my little princess there but one day soon. Thanks for reminding us all how beautiful it is.
Thanks Irina. This garden holds a special place in mostly KIngstonion heartsfrom our chilhood and so on.
Would love you to do a peice on Tom REctum LIbra
ry. The brain center of Kignston.
Thanks once more.
Glad to hear about the nursery, did not know.
As a 59 year old Jamaican now living in the USA, I am very proud to see that Hope Garden has been restored to glory and is now flourishing on a bigger scale. In the early 1970's as little kids, I remember visiting the zoo and the amusement park rides which were a very big deal for us kids in those days. I very much enjoyed the picturesque scenes of the botanical garden in this video, however, I would have also liked to see and hear more about the zoo and the amusement rides. For example, if there are no longer a zoo exhibition and amusement park at Hope Garden, are there any future plans to reestablish them there? I would have love to get some feedback on these basic questions. Thanks for featuring the preservation of Jamaica's beloved Hope Gardens and please keep up the excellent work.
Once got lost in the maze.lol..a marriage propsal and met a nice boy from Arden..lol.Though fleeting.. happy memories.
Ngl, this production was top-tier!
You have to pay a fee I think the security day it's for parking. It's not free to drive up in to the Hope Garden. Am not sure or you agenda but
You are so right. The Brooklyn botanical garden in nyc . The fee is US$22 to enter
I visited New York's Central Park for the first time last year. Heard about it and read about it for years! It is massive (can't remember how many acres). Admission: free. True it's not called a botanical garden so…🤔
Greetins Irie Tanks much fir info And videos eye opener. GRATITUDE IS A MUST.
I used to go to Hope Gardens as a child on picnics.
The Botanical section is lovely or was???
Why can't there be a minimum fee and I mean minimum to help offset some of the cost ?
This is our country NOT YOURS it NOT in your country
Why you think you should come to our to tell us what should be free.GET OUT OF OUR COUNTRY, YOU WHITE DEVIL
It's very good you are showcasing Hope Garden's, but please don't talk about charging local to go there, and about building houses there.😢😢
Irie, is the Band Shell still there in Hope Gardens❓️❓️❓️❓️❓️❓️
Please don't put any ideas in the politicians heads. Saying that it's free.
I visited as a child 40 years ago and looking forward to bringing family especially brutal winter here in northern Ontario Canada
Gracias. Hay muchas "tatarabuelos" (my Dad's pronunciation of Great grandparents) de Jamaïca con niños de Jamaïca. Irie, gracias para todo. Vaya con Díos. Otra vez, gracias… (Thank you)❤❤
We pay for tours
I remember going with my dad and my sisters to the gardens every Sunday for the military Bandstand
How beautiful. May God bless your efforts.
I guess it's the name "HOPE Gardens" that makes it so spectacular and special. Growing up as a child that was and still is the place for us to visit for picnics, church fun days and meetings and that quiet time with family. Every holidays all road leads there especially at Christmas moments by the score❤😂