Hop on over to the Botanics this weekend to join in with our Easter Trail!
Set off on a hunt for the Golden Egg, discovering different animals and their eggs on your journey to help the Botanics bunny.
Now open daily until Sun 14 Apr, find out more:
With fewer than 200 sleeps until Christmas, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is finalising plans to welcome back Christmas at the Botanics for its sixth year.
The annual festive marvel will once again light up the capital’s night sky with a one mile illuminated trail, running for six weeks from 17 November to 30 December (selected evenings only).
New installations at the Botanics for 2022 include:
· Floraison, from the French artistic collective, Pitaya, takes flora and fauna to a new level. A total of 240 red, glowing flowers will appear to blossom on trees along the path of the Chinese Hillside bringing an ethereal vibe to the trail.
· Aurora, from UK artists ITHACA, makes its first ever appearance in Scotland. A new overhead piece, the installation recreates the visual tones of the stunning Aurora Borealis with waves of colour.
· Feathers, by UK artists Pyrite Creative, sees UV feathers measuring up to two meters, appear to float gracefully in the trees above visitors as they pass by.
Returning festive favourites include the magnificent Christmas Cathedral, Inverleith House projection and – making its return for 2022 – the Laser Garden, which will for the first time in Edinburgh feature rainbow lasers casting beams and thousands of coloured dots across the surrounding landscape.
The 2021 trail attracted the biggest audience in its six-year history – welcoming more than 90,000 visitors over its five-week run. With the capital able to again welcome visitors from across the UK and internationally, organisers are aiming for another record-breaking year, as family and friends come together to enjoy the festivities.
Kari Coghill, Director of Enterprise and Communication, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh said: “We work hard all year to display the fruits of the seasons through our magnificent plant collections.
“Opening the Garden on a crisp winter’s evening continues to be special as visitors can experience this wonderful place in a very different light – all while enjoying a hot chocolate or toasting a marshmallow with friends or family.
“Ticket sales from Christmas at the Botanics help us to maintain the Garden and continue our work in plant research, conservation, horticulture and education. I look forward to throwing open our gates and welcoming everyone to the trail in November.”
Jonathan Marks, Director at Raymond Gubbay, a division of Sony Music, which promotes the event, added: “Creating festive traditions with family or friends is something to be cherished.
“Christmas at the Botanics has become a milestone moment which kicks off the season for so many people. It’s the perfect get-together for all ages. As with last year, we are again able to welcome larger groups and I can’t wait to see everyone enjoying the illuminated Garden.”
Tickets for this year’s show are on sale now. For further ticket information, pricing and timings, please visit www.rbge.org.uk/christmas. Visitors are encouraged to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Christmas at the Botanics is one of 14 illuminated trails staged across the UK by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music. Christmas at the Botanics is presented in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and creative producer Culture Creative.
For more details visit https://mychristmastrails.co.uk/ and follow @mychristmastrails on Facebook and Instagram.
Next Saturday, a 10 metre tall sea goddess will appear at the Botanics.
With eyes the colour of oyster shells and a voice like the chorus of the waves, Storm has emerged from the deep to encourage us all to celebrate our seas, care for our coastlines and empower us to put the environment first.
This intimate experience from Vision Mechanics marks Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 20/21 and is an incredible opportunity to see a folklore giant made-real.
From 11am on Saturday 30 October 2021 | Free entry | RBGE Creative Programmes
Presented as part of this year’s Edinburgh Science Festival, Luke Jerram’s In Memoriam is a touring art work displayed at the Royal Botanic Garden, marking its first visit to Scotland.
The installation is a temporary memorial for the public to visit and remember all those we have lost from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Memoriam is also made in tribute to all the NHS health and care workers who have been risking their lives during the crisis. Referencing those people who have been in hospital and care homes during this crisis, the flags are created from NHS bed sheets and arranged in the form of a medical logo.
Luke Jerram is a world-renowned artist whose multidisciplinary practice involves the creation of sculptures, installations and live arts projects. Luke is now known globally for his innovative large-scale public artworks, including the famous Museum of Moon, experienced by more than 10 million people worldwide.
Luke Jerram said: “It’s amazing to be part of the Edinburgh Science Festival and to present my artwork In Memoriam in Scotland for the first time, in the beautiful surroundings of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
“I hope it will allow the space and time for reflection to those who need it.”
Amanda Tyndall, Festival Director said: “We have long been committed to the merging of science and the arts to provide the public with meaningful interactions with the science so central to all our lives.
“Luke’s work is a wonderful example of the power this can have and is a moving and fitting tribute to those we have lost and to the exceptional people that have helped us through such challenging times.”
Focusing on climate crisis, global pandemic of Covid-19 and celebrating women in STEM, the 33rd Edinburgh Science Festival is currently underway with a theme of One World: Science Connects Us.
Featuring over 220 in-person exhibitions, installations and a wide range of walks, tours and trails, the Festival is a perfect opportunity for people to safely get a live science experience this summer.
Its ambitious digital programme of talks, workshops and downloadable resources for people of all ages means that this year’s Festival truly connects sci-curious people around the globe.
Alongside Luke Jerram’s In Memoriam, some of the other outdoor and in-person exhibitions and walks on offer include Pale Blue Dot at the National Museum of Scotland, delving deep into all things marine, celebrating some of UK’s greatest engineering innovations – This is Engineering…As You’ve Never Seen It Before on The Mound, Women in STEM Street Art Trail, highlighting the achievements of 9 remarkable scientists through large-scale graffiti portraits displayed around Edinburgh or Oscillation in Light and Sound, an interactive exploration of light and sound using giant crystals scattered around St Andrew Square.
To browse the full programme of in-person events, walks and exhibitions in and around Edinburgh, visit www.sciencefestival.co.uk.
Bringing much-needed merriment to round off a tough year for all, the twinkling trail will be one of the few festive activities happening in the capital this year thanks to its outdoor setting and a series of stringent health and safety measures to protect visitors.
These include regulated entry time slots, limited capacities, reduced dwell times, contactless ticket scanning and a one-way trail route.
Attendees must book their tickets online in advance of their visit and follow the lasted Scottish Government restrictions on travel and meeting others.
Delivering a dazzling display of lights, projections and lasers, the one mile long after-dark extravaganza will welcome back some of the Garden’s most popular installations including the Cathedral of Light and Laser Garden.
For those who are on his ‘good’ list this year, Santa Claus will make an appearance outside on the trail to greet visitors at a distance, while several new installations include a projected light show on the Garden’s modernist Front Range Glasshouses and Starfield – a display of 20 giant LED twinkling stars – are also set to be firm favourites for 2020.
In line with Scotland’s new Covid-19 local protection levels and travel restrictions, this year the trail’s success is dependent on support from the residents of the City of Edinburgh local authority area.
Simon Milne MBE, Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: “We are calling on the people of Edinburgh to show their support by visiting Christmas at the Botanics.
“By coming to the trail not only will visitors enjoy a wonderful festive experience but also help us and our work enormously. Profits from the trail go to help finance our important and innovative plant research and conservation programmes in Scotland and around the world.
“Never has our work been more crucial as we face the interrelated challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, biodiversity loss and climate change. This has been a hugely difficult year for us all. At the Botanics, we want to end the year by creating something very special for the City and we hope everyone will come and enjoy some festive fun.”
The 2019 trail welcomed 76,000 visitors during its five-week run – and the 2020 event promises to be equally as popular.
Jonathan Marks, Chief Development Director at Raymond Gubbay, a division of Sony Music, which promotes the event, added: “Christmas at the Botanics has established itself as a truly uplifting experience that helps the capital kick off the festive season in style, and it’s never been more needed than in 2020.
“A lot of work has gone into making the trail Covid-safe so that our customers can visit with confidence. I am thrilled that the team has made it happen. The fusion of the beautiful natural setting of the Garden combined with the striking, modern art created by the lights provides a deeply atmospheric and magical setting and we can’t wait for visitors to experience it for themselves.”
Due to Covid-19 ALL tickets must be pre-booked for the trail in advance online. For ticket information, pricing and timings, please visit the website below and follow @mychristmastrails #ChristmasAtTheBotanics
https://christmasatthebotanics.seetickets.com/timeslots/christmas-at-the-botanics/
Christmas at the Botanics is one of seven illuminated trails by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music, in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh and creative producer Culture Creative.
More information on the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh health and safety measures can be accessed here: https://www.rbge.org.uk/visit/visiting-us-during-covid-19/
PICTURES: Phil Wilkinson
Christmas at the Botanics – the magical and botanical illuminated trail – is returning in 2020 for its longest run ever.
Now in its fourth consecutive year, the event will be held over a record 32-nights from 26 November to 3 January within the stunning setting of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (selected evenings only).
The trail promises to round off 2020 on a high and bring cheer into 2021 as it delivers a dazzling display of lights, projections and lasers that will surprise and delight those who attend.
The one mile long after-dark extravaganza will welcome back some of the most popular festive installations including the Cathedral of Light and Laser Garden, as well as an appearance by Santa Claus and the festive finale which will be projected onto Inverleith House.
As ever, the trail will also feature several new installations with new attractions including a projected light show on the 128 metre long modernist Front Range Glasshouses and Starfield – a large-scale installation of white LED twinkling stars by audio-visual designers Art AV.
Now a centrepiece of Edinburgh’s festive calendar, Christmas at the Botanics will form the pièce de résistance on the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s 350th anniversary year.
The 2019 event welcomed 76,000 visitors during its five-week run – and the 2020 event promises to be as popular to those from Edinburgh and beyond.
Simon Milne MBE, Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: “Having experienced the closure of our four Gardens for several weeks as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever that we open for Christmas at the Botanics and I hope that all who attend will benefit from the festive cheer it brings.
“This year’s event is even more special as it forms part of our 350th anniversary celebrations which have been significantly impacted by the lockdown. The work of the Botanics has never been more important globally in protecting the environment, human lives and economies. By coming to our event, visitors will play a vital role in funding plant research and conservation.
“We want to reassure all those planning to attend that we will have new health and safety measures in place to protect visitors. While this might mean that one or two of our installations may change this year, rest assured we want everyone who comes to the trail to enjoy their visit safely – whether this is their first time or if they have attended before.”
Jonathan Marks, Chief Development Director at Raymond Gubbay, a division of Sony Music, which promotes the event, added: “Christmas at the Botanics has established itself as a truly uplifting event that helps to set the tone for the festive season in Edinburgh.
“We are delighted to return to the spectacular backdrop that is the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. We’ll welcome back some of the most loved installations as well as keeping the anticipation of the after-dark spectacle high with the introduction of some new and exciting exhibits. We can’t wait for visitors to see what we have in store for them this year.”
Tickets for this year’s show are on sale now. For further ticket information, pricing and timings, please visit www.rbge.org.uk/christmas.
Christmas at the Botanics is one of seven illuminated trails brought to you by leading events promoter Raymond Gubbay Limited, a division of Sony Music. Christmas at the Botanics is held in partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and creative producer Culture Creative.
For more details visit https://mychristmastrails.co.uk/ and follow @mychristmastrails on Facebook and Instagram.
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is now serving its new indulgent afternoon tea menu, that for the first time includes completely vegan and gluten-free experiences.
Created by Sodexo, the foodie team behind the restaurant and cafés at the Botanics, the new addition is the perfect way to enhance a fantastic day at the Gardens.
Launching in time for Mother’s Day, The Gateway Restaurant provides a relaxed and contemporary backdrop to enjoy a mouth-watering afternoon tea, whilst overlooking the gardens from this world-renowned sustainable venue. Available from 6 March, the new offer is inspired by the gardens, bringing the outdoors in and onto the plate.
Served from 2.30pm each day, the Botanical Afternoon Tea features an edible plant pot and mini cone topped with candy floss along with a selection of seasonal sandwiches and sweet treats guaranteed to tantalise the taste buds.
A highlight of the vegan option is the sausage roll made with locally sourced wild mushrooms and on the gluten free menu, the venue has introduced a savoury quiche.
The chocolate trough, inspired by a window box features on all three menus as does the quintessential scone. Served on individually decorated stands afternoon tea can be enjoyed in the restaurant, or al fresco on the terrace.
Commenting on the new afternoon tea, Susan Holligan, Catering General Manager at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: “This new immersive afternoon tea provides guests with a complete Botanics experience.
“The menu has been designed to showcase the best of the garden and reflect how it changes during the year. It will feature seasonal dishes that illustrate the changing flora and fauna surrounding our restaurant.
“We want to ensure everyone can enjoy the decadent afternoon tea experience regardless of dietary requirements, so with an estimated 600,000 vegans in the UK and 8.5 million people on gluten-free diets, we have worked hard to create the perfect alternatives.
“We don’t believe in simply substituting certain items to fulfil allergy requirements, we have worked just as hard on our full vegan and gluten-free stands so that everyone has the perfect Botanical Afternoon Tea experience.
“Afternoon tea is always a popular occasion, but it certainly peaks around Mother’s Day when families come together to spoil their mum or grandma. And with this literally just around the corner, we’d advise early booking to avoid disappointment.”
Available from 6 March, afternoon tea costs £24.95 per person with unlimited tea and coffee, or £29.95 per person with a glass of fizz. The gluten-free and vegan options have to be ordered 24 hours in advance.
Pre-booking isn’t essential but recommended.
FREE EVENT TODAY: 12pm – 3pm
Join us for some festive cheer and share some winter warmers as we celebrate St Andrew’s Fair Saturday in the Botanic Cottage. Continue reading St. Andrew’s Fair Saturday at Botanics Cottage
Planning a wedding can be stressful, not least because of the amount of choices presented to couples, from the colour scheme and dress to the food, drinks and those little touches.
However, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) has its own wedding event design to ensure help is on hand to navigate through the options and create the perfect day. Continue reading The Botanics wedding experts unveil top 10 trends for the big day in 2020
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) has won the backing of city councillors to proceed with an ambitious £70m initiative to safeguard Scotland’s priceless national plant collections and future proof its status as a world-leading centre for plant science, education, horticulture and conservation.
State-of-the-art facilities will underpin the Garden’s core activities, while the visitor experience will be greatly enhanced through the refurbishment and extension of the popular public Glasshouses. Continue reading Green light for Botanics plans
