Garden Goes 'State of The Art'

Last updated: 20/11/2006 - 10:06

A new state-of-the-art visitor centre for the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh is to receive a £2 million boost from the Scottish Executive.

Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden

Pictured (right): Tropical Palm House, Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. All images used with permission.

A new state-of-the-art visitor centre for the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh (RBGE) is to receive a £2 million contribution from the Scottish Executive towards the fundraising target of £13 million.

The proposed new Gateway centre will underpin RBGE's mission - to explore and explain the world of plants - by offering enhanced visitor facilities, encouraging new and existing visitors to enjoy greater understanding the RBGE's work.

Attraction

A spokewoman said: "The RBGE is a major asset for Scotland - a major visitor attraction and an internationally renowned scientific institution. The proposed new Gateway visitor centre at RBGE will bring these facets together in a most exciting way.

"It will give visitors an unparalled opportunity to engage in and understand important issues relating to biodiversity, climate change, and sustainability as well as in understanding plants."

Dr Paul Nicholson, RBGE Chairman, added: "Scottish Executive support of this nature is significant both for the current fund-raising initiative and for the long-term success of the Gateway.

Mission

"At the very heart of the RBGE's mission statement is the requirement to provide access for all interested members of the public and to communicate how everyone, whatever their age or ability, can help turn the tide against environmental destruction."

RBGE is managed by a Board of Trustees appointed by Ministers. Its mission is to 'explore and explain the world of plants' and its primary functions are: national collections, visitor services and science in society.

The Edinburgh Garden is open every day of the year except Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The Regional Gardens are normally closed in Winter. Visit the Gardens website for more information.

The four gardens of the Royal Botanical Gardens in the Scottish capital (Edinburgh, Benmore Botanic Garden - on the west coast of Scotland - Dawyck Botanic Garden in the Scottish Borders and Logan Botanic Garden - at the southern-most point of the country) comprise the National Botanic Gardens of Scotland and are numbered amongst the most popular visitor attractions in the country.

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