Scents & stories · Inspired by Cambridge
Bag · 0

Cambridge Stories · Gardens & nature

Behind the walls: the Fellows’ Garden.

Behind high college walls, away from the traffic and the tour groups, there are gardens where the city seems to fall silent. Lawns stretch out under old trees, borders sway in the breeze, and someone sits on a bench with a book. The name on the gate often says: Fellows’ Garden.

There is no single Fellows’ Garden in Cambridge. The name belongs to particular college gardens, and it does not tell you everything about who may enter. At Christ’s, the college explicitly says its Fellows’ Garden is enjoyed by all college members, not only academics. Whether the public can visit is a separate question.

A green pause at Christ’s

Christ’s describes a two-acre garden with lawns, flowerbeds, shrubs and trees, where members read, walk and meet friends. That contrast between the busy city outside and the space to breathe within is what inspired our Fellows’ Garden fragrance.

A garden beyond old walls: leaves, a little stillness, and histories rooted in the ground.

A detail worth looking for

The college tells the story of Milton’s Mulberry Tree, propped up after a storm in 1795 and grown from the root of an older tree planted in 1609. It is a living reminder that a garden, like a college, grows slowly over centuries.

Sources & further reading

Visitor arrangements and event details can change; check with the relevant institution before visiting.

Visit it yourself

  1. Check each college’s current visitor information before planning a visit.
  2. Look for open garden days, when private gardens welcome the public.
  3. At Christ’s, ask about Milton’s Mulberry Tree.

The scent of this story

Fellows’ Garden Rose · green leaves · rain-washed petals Discover the scent

More stories

Previous · A common room is more than a roomNext · Cambridge before the UniversityAll stories

Gardens & nature

The long way to Grantchester.

Gardens & nature

A garden grown for curiosity.

Gardens & nature

Byron’s Pool: a quieter bend.