New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

The New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is a non-profit educational organization formed for the purpose of advancing the science and encouraging and improving the practice of horticulture. The Botanic Garden is situated on 171 acres of rolling topography that was formed by glacial action. Adjacent to the Wachusett Reservoir, Tower Hill Botanic Garden is one of only two major botanic gardens in New England and is home to the third oldest horticultural society in the country, the Worcester County Horticultural Society (WCHS). Currently, The Garden offers visitors the chance to experience exotic plants, while highlighting a multitude of natural ecosystems. The undeveloped portions of the property allow visitors to experience a wide range of healthy ecosystems that contain very few invasive plant species, something uncommon in Massachusetts. 

The Ramble, a fully accessible 1.5-acre children’s woodland garden, was designed by landscape architect W. Gary Smith and Ryan Associates. The garden was designed to stimulate and inspire interest in the environment and science in children, families, and the young at heart. The garden features a central sunlit circular lawn, water sequence, wildlife pond, amphitheater, natural play structures, small spaces for play and relaxation, and picnic pavilion. As a unique destination in the region, the Ramble is anticipated to attract families from throughout New England.

The stormwater system throughout the Ramble & Allée consists of drywells and individual infiltration structures to minimize disturbance of the natural surroundings. The stormwater system was designed to keep the area playable by wicking away stormwater from areas to prevent puddling, while infiltrating the stormwater back to the adjacent wooded areas, recharging the immediate aquifer that keeps this woodland so vibrant.