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Barbados Natural Attractions
 Botanical Gardens
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Flower Forest
Located at the site of a former sugar plantation in the hills of Northern Barbados at 850 feet above sea level, this botanical garden encompasses an area of 50 acres and features many imported tropical plants around the world as well as a variety of indigenous plants and flowers. Featured are heliconias, yuccas, ferns, bougainvilleas and palm trees as well as such imported species from Asia as the Red Ixora (jungle flame), Phaeomaria magnifica (Torch Ginger or Porcelain rose), Gmellina phillipensis (Parrot's beak) and Costus Speciosus (Spiral ginger); from tropical America , Costus malorteanus (stepladder plant), Allamanda and Alpina Purpuruta (Ginger Lilly) are represented; from Africa , there are several species including the Baobab Tree.
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Orchid World
Located within 10 -15 minutes by car from Flower Forest, Orchid World is located on a six-acre former chicken/pig farm surrounded by sugarcane in the heart of the Barbadian countryside. As the name suggests, the featured attraction at this botanical garden are Orchids , of which there many different varieties and hybrids- Vandas, Phalaenopsis, Calanthes, Cattlyeas, Ascocendas and Dendrobiums just to name a few In addition, there are a variety of other tropical plants and flowers in the gardens.
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Andromeda Gardens
Andromeda Botanic Gardens is a six-acre tropical garden in the Parish of St Joseph, overlooking the scenic east coast of Barbados. This botanical garden started as a private plant collection around the home of Ms. Iris Bannochie in 1954 and is currently owned by the Barbados National Trust. Andromeda currently boasts over six hundred different species of plants adapted to a range of tropical environments. Highlights include Ficus citrofolia (Bearded fig tree) from Barbados, Schefflera acinopylla (Octopus Tree) from Java, Afrocarpus gracilior (Fern pine) from tropical East Africa, Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm) from Japan, Catharantus roseus (Madagascar Periwinkle) and Averrhoa bilimbi (The Bilimbi) from Madagascar , Brugmansia species (Angel's trumpets) and Mansoa alliacea (Garlic Vine) from South America. There is also a dedicated Orchid nursery.
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Welchman Hall Gulley
Welchman Hall Gully, located in the parish of St.Thomas, is a one-mile long "gully" and home to a variety of tropical plant ands trees, including nutmeg, bamboo, clove and palms. There are stretches along the path, where one will encounter some spectacular plantings of Costus Speciosus (Spiral Ginger) as well as the red and pink variety (jungle king and jungle queen) of the Alpina Pupurata , more commonly know as the Ginger Lilly. At the far end of the walking trail, near the gazebo, there is a beautiful sample of the Costus malorteanus (stepladder plant) from Central America. From the gazebo, there are wonderful views that look out towards the Atlantic Ocean.
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Other Parks and Natural History Attractions
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Turner Hall Woods
Located in northeastern Barbados, Turner Hall Woods is a wildlife refuge that protects Barbados last remaining primary forest. Consisting of 45 acres on a steep slope, the forest is popular with hikers and birders alike Currently 32 species of trees have been identified in this forest, these woods consists mainly of dense stands of macaw palms as well as bully, white cedar, West Indian locust and fustic.
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Graeme Hall Swamp
Located on the south coast in the heart of the tourist area, Graeme Hall Swamp, a 78-acre wildlife refuge, is Barbados's most popular birding area. At sunrise and sunset, visitor may be treated to a magnificent show as thousands of Cattle Egrets flying in and out of white mangrove trees, where these egrets roost and nest.
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The Barbados National Trust
On the weekends, The Barbados National Trust organizes free morning and afternoon nature hikes for residents, although tourists are encouraged to participate. Each hike is approximately 5 miles and lasts about 3 -4 hours and highlights the nature, history and culture of the island. A different region is covered each week and the groups are broken up into smaller groups of varying levels of ability. This hiking program is well received and is one of a kind in the Caribbean. Highly recommended.
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