Students and supporters held a rally in support of the garden

Treborth botanic garden in Bangor has been developed on the banks of the Menai Straits since the 1960s.

The University of Wales, Bangor said there were no plans to close the garden and important plants would be saved.

But the Friends of Treborth fear personnel and management changes and moving some plants will be damaging.

Financial implications

Supporters claimed that they were told that the main reasons for the changes were financial, with heating the glasshouses alone costing around �18,000 a year.

Moving responsibility for maintenance of the garden would also save money.

A university spokesman said: "The changes being implemented involve the estates and facilities department taking responsibility for the site as they do with the rest of the university estate.

"Some plants which are important for research and teaching will be moved to another heated glasshouse at the university, but other plants will remain at the Treborth site."

Supporters are worried the changes will damage the garden

The university said they understood the concerns of the 300-strong Friends of Treborth about the changes, and would be meeting with them over the coming weeks to discuss the situation.

But Ann Wood, from the Friends of Treborth, said: "We are dismayed with the university's decision because we sincerely feel that although the estates department are fantastic they don't have the expertise needed to look after the botanic garden".

Apart from the effect on the garden, she said the changes would make the situation of the friends' group "impossible" as the laboratory building used for their meetings would be unheated.

"Some students are looking at alternative ways to heat the building, but for that to work we would need a stay of execution in order to plan properly," she added.

'Unique in Wales'

The garden has been developed on the site since the 1960s and part of it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

It features plants from home and abroad, with many tender plants being housed in heated glasshouses.

Support of the garden extends beyond the friends group and a campaign has been launched to urge letters to be sent to the university vice-chancellor professor Merfyn Jones about the situation.

"Treborth Botanic Garden is unique in Wales in having a teaching curator which should be applauded and it is a feature that makes University of Wales, Bangor special," said Anna Williams, wildlife gardening project offficer with the Snowdonia National Park.

"The link between the curator and education is not just of immense value to the students at the University, it also benefits many schools, local organisations and the general public," Ms Williams added.