Tag: RBGE

Edinburgh Botanics’ Palm Houses reopening date revealed …

… and here’s how to get in first!

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) has announced that its historic Palm Houses will reopen to the public on Friday 2 October 2026, following five years of careful restoration work that has transformed one of the city’s most treasured A-listed buildings.

To mark the occasion, the Garden is inviting visitors to sign up for an exclusive presale, with the opportunity to book tickets 48 hours ahead of general admission.

The reopening marks the completion of a transformative phase of the Edinburgh Biomes project, the most ambitious restoration and development programme in the Garden’s history. While the oldest of the two Palm Houses dates to 1834, the newer, rectangular house retains the title of tallest traditional Palm House in the world.

The scale of the restoration work is extraordinary. Over five thousand panes of glass have been created from bespoke templates that have been specially designed to withstand the impacts of climate change, with 600 m² of repairs carried out to the original Georgian and Victorian iron structure to restore the iconic Palm Houses to their former glory.

The refurbishment forms part of a wider £58million investment in the Edinburgh Biomes programme and was supported by the Scottish Government. Over £10.6m has been raised via philanthropic fundraising and a public appeal which also contributed £250,000 towards this project.

Before restoration work could begin, the Horticulture team carefully removed 800 precious plant specimens from the Palm Houses.

The majority were temporarily rehomed within the Garden’s other Glasshouses, while replanting of the empty Palm Houses began earlier this year. Around 600 specimens – including plants endangered in the wild – will ultimately be returned, among them a stone gate palm (Trachycarpus princeps), standing over eight metres tall and believed to be the tallest of its kind in cultivation outside China.

Plantings also include a young sabal palm, the 10-year-old offspring of one of the Garden’s oldest and most celebrated plants, the Sabal mexicana, estimated to be around 200 years old when it was felled in 2021.

Professor Julia Knights, Regius Keeper at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: “I am thrilled to be reopening the world’s tallest traditional Palm House after five years of painstaking restoration with the support of the Scottish Government and our generous donors. 

“As we fight to tackle climate change and nature loss, the reopening of the Palm Houses is a globally significant moment for Scotland and the world. As well as celebrating our Living Collection of plants – including those endangered in the wild – this moment also reflects our work as Scotland’s global scientific centre of excellence in plant science, horticulture, education and conservation.”

Entry to the Palm Houses will be by ticketed admission, with allocated time slots available throughout the day.

To avoid disappointment, RBGE recommends pre-booking in advance.

Those who sign up for presale access at rbge.org.uk/palm-houses will receive the opportunity to book tickets 48 hours before the general public when they go on sale.

Members and patrons of the Botanics go free and will benefit from special preview access in September 2026, ahead of the public opening, with further information on booking to follow soon.

Can plants help solve some of our biggest environmental challenges?

What if the solution to flooding, rising temperatures and biodiversity loss was right under our noses? Visitors are invited to discover how plants can help tackle some of today’s most critical environmental challenges through the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s Nature-based Solutions tour on June 12.

The guided tour takes visitors behind the scenes of the Garden’s Nature-based Solutions programme which showcases real-life examples of how plants are being used to address environmental challenges.

Along the tour, visitors can explore stormwater planters, living lawns, bioretention ponds and Edinburgh’s flagship rain garden, while learning how these projects help reduce flooding, regulate temperatures, and create valuable habitats for wildlife

A highlight of the tour is the Garden’s Rain Garden, which was created in 2019 to tackle persistent flooding was developed through a collaboration between Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh scientists, horticulturists, and researchers from Heriot-Watt University.

The project transformed a regularly flooded lawn and pathway into a thriving planted landscape. The surrounding paths no longer flood, the Garden is sustained entirely by rainfall, and the planting continues to thrive, demonstrating how nature-based solutions can deliver practical and lasing benefits.

The tour also provides an insight into the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s wider Nature-based Solutions programme and its Plants with Purpose initiative.

Through research and real -world testing, the programme investigates how plants can help reduce flood risk, regulate temperatures and restore biodiversity in urban environments, as cities adapt to the impacts of climate change, this work is helping build the evidence needed to create greener, healthier and more resilient communities

Whether you’re passionate about climate action, conservation or sustainable gardening, the Nature-based Solutions tour offers a unique opportunity to explore how plants can help create healthier and more resilient communities.

As well as learning about the science behind these projects, visitors will discover practical ideas that can be applied in gardens, neighborhoods and urban spaces, demonstrating how nature can play a vital role in addressing the environment challenges of today and tomorrow.

Caitlyn Johnstone one of the nature-based solutions scientists explains, “The ecosystem is incredibly connected, and plants are changing the world around them: soaking up floodwater, stabilizing land, providing food and shelter to insects and birds, improving human wellbeing, even actively cooling the air!

“When we learn from nature and apply the power of those plants to specific problems, we improve our world in so many ways.”

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh refreshes Garden View Deck & Bar for summer season

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has unveiled its newly refreshed Garden View Deck & Bar, in association with Maison Pommery & Associés, offering a relaxed and elevated al fresco escape in the heart of the capital, in time for the summer season.

Located within the John Hope Gateway, the Garden View Deck & Bar will, for the first time, extend its opening hours across the summer months. The Deck & Bar is open from 12PM to 8PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 12PM to 4:30PM on Sundays, offering the perfect weekend lunchtime escape with a view.

On Fridays and Saturdays, guests can continue enjoying the space with extended opening hours until 8PM. While the wider Gardens close at 5PM, the Deck remains open, offering panoramic views over the Living Collection in the light summer evenings.

The new evening offering invites guests to experience the Botanics at a different pace, encouraging them to linger longer and unwind in a beautiful garden setting as the sun sets. In collaboration with catering partners Heritage Portfolio, the menu has been designed for informal grazing and sharing, with a focus on seasonality and bold, summery flavours. 

Freshly prepared stone baked pizzas include classic combinations such as Margherita with tomato sugo, mozzarella and basil, and pepperoni with nduja and hot honey, as well as a vegan bianca with potato, caramelised onion and vegan mozzarella.

A selection of artisan small plates includes a cheese board for two with Stilton blue, Camembert and Arran smoked cheddar, seasonal pickles and Gordal olives and more. Just like the Gateway Cafe, the menu will be inspired by produce from the Kitchen Garden, infusing fresh, seasonal, and hyper-local ingredients into the menu. 

Dr Julia Knights, Regius Keeper at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh said: “Today marks an important moment in an exciting new partnership between Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Maison Pommery, which brings together shared values of excellence, heritage, sustainability and cultural engagement.

“Together we are creating a premium experience that invites our visitors to enjoy nature and celebrate the Garden through a new lens, showcasing both the beauty of the Garden and its important mission to protect Earth’s fragile habitats.”

Sandy Robson, Executive Director of Heritage Portfolio commented: “We are delighted to offer a new space for Edinburgh locals and visitors to enjoy this summer, with a food and beverage offering that champions local produce while reflecting the best of the season in a relaxed, open-air setting for long summer evenings.

“The menu has been designed to be informal and shareable, encouraging guests to graze, try a little of everything and spend time together over food.”

Maison Pommery is highlighted through a selection of its emblematic cuvées, reflecting its expertise and heritage. Each Champagne precisely expresses the House style, combining finesse, freshness, and balance.

Julien Lonneux, CEO of Maison Pommery United Kingdom, adds: “At Maison Pommery, we firmly believe that excellence cannot exist without responsibility. Preserving nature means preserving the very essence of our wines and our heritage.”

The drinks offer also includes a selection of wines, beers and soft drinks chosen to complement relaxed outdoor dining. A dedicated spritz menu brings a playful, botanical focus inspired by summer evenings.

Alongside classic serves like an Aperol Spritz and Hugo Spritz, the bespoke Garden Party collection includes the Strawberry Meadow with strawberry and elderflower, and the Provençal Bloom with lavender and lemon.

The Garden View Deck & Bar operates on a walk in basis, offering a flexible way to visit whether guests are rounding off a day in the Garden or arriving specifically for an evening drink and something to eat. Guests can enjoy the refreshed space on weekends from May 8th.

For more information on the Garden View Deck & Bar, please visit:

https://www.rbge.org.uk/deck-bar/

Nathan Evans and The Saint Phnx Band announce intimate gig to support Scotland’s mental health

Scottish music sensations Nathan Evans and Saint Phnx will be singing for the nation’s mental health at a special charity gig for SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health).

The unforgettable and intimate night of live music will be held at the stunning Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on Friday 6 June, with just 150 pairs of tickets up for grabs at this exclusive event.

Tickets are available through a text to win prize draw, powered by the Fonix platform (www.fonix.com), giving fans the chance to win a pair of tickets by texting GIG to 84903.

You will be charged your standard network rate charge and a voluntary £3 donation to SAMH – You must be 18 or over and have the bill payer’s permission to enter. Entries close at 11:59pm on 11/05/2025.

See T&Cs at samh.org.uk/gstc

The event signals the start of SAMH’s new programme of special events, The Garden Sessions: an exclusive fundraising initiative that joins the magic of live music with support for vital mental health services.

Nathan Evans, known for his viral sea shanties, and chart-topping band Saint Phnx, will headline the first SAMH Garden Session, with more exclusive shows planned later in the year.

Nathan Evans said: “We’re absolutely buzzing to be part of the very first SAMH Garden Session. Playing an intimate show like this, in such a stunning setting, and for a cause as important as mental health, makes it really special for us.

“We can’t wait to be part of something so positive and memorable — it’s going to be an incredible night.”

Hazel McIlwraith, Director of Fundraising and Major Appeals at SAMH, said: “Music has an incredible ability to bring people together, lift spirits, and create lasting memories.

“Connecting with other people and being surrounded by nature is good for your mental health, and this special event will be an uplifting experience.

“With The Garden Sessions, we want to offer something truly unique that not only celebrates live music and gives fans the opportunity to see top artists up close, but also raises vital funds for mental health at a time when support is so desperately needed.”

SAMH recently announced plans to open The Nook, Scotland’s first ever network of walk-in mental health support hubs and proceeds from this event will help to support their establishment.

Find out more at samh.org.uk/the-nook.

Botanics: Big changes at Gateway Cafe

🍴 Big changes are coming to the Gateway Café! While renovations are underway to create a fresh new look, the café counters will be closed from tomorrow until the end of March.

But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered:

– The Gateway Café is still open in a reduced capacity. Enjoy a selection of sandwiches and baked goods from our pop-up in the café, accessible via the decking outside the Gateway 🌞

– Your favourite drinks and sweet treats are available at our pop-up downstairs in the John Hope Gateway ☕

– Delicious hot food is just a stone’s throw away at the Terrace Café 🥪

We can’t wait to welcome you to our new space – here’s a sneak peek (above)

P.S. Even more exciting dining updates coming your way soon!

HTA champions Scottish horticulture at Holyrood reception and Royal Botanic Garden member event

LAST week, The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) hosted its first Scottish regional event of the year at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, followed by a reception at Holyrood.

HTA members gathered for a behind-the-scenes tour of the site, an introduction to the Royal Botanic Garden team, and an update on the HTA’s policy work in Scotland. Following the regional event, the HTA hosted the Cross-Party Group (CPG) for Gardening and Horticulture for their Annual General Meeting at Holyrood, with MSPs and the HTA in attendance.

The evening reception was hosted by Christine Grahame MSP, with a speech from Professor Sir John Curtice, who advocated for the use of gardening and horticulture as a policy solution for the Scottish government, especially for an ageing population, to enable them to live better and not just longer. 

The HTA’s Chairman, James Barnes and Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity of Scotland, also spoke at the reception.

Christine Grahame, MSP said: “I am delighted to sponsor this event in the Parliament to raise awareness of the importance of the horticultural trades and their contribution to the economy. I’m also passionate about promoting the great health benefits and enjoyment horticulture offers to millions of Scots.

“If anyone was in any doubt before, the Covid pandemic certainly demonstrated the importance of having access to good quality green spaces and, better still, for those of us lucky enough to have a garden, our wellbeing, and the horticultural trades are key to enabling that.”

Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister of Agriculture and Connectivity of Scotland, said: “I was pleased to attend the HTA parliamentary reception and speak about my engagements with the horticulture sector over the last several months, which the HTA helpfully arranged.

“Environmental horticulture is a diverse sector and I have developed a real sense of the sector’s important contribution to the environment, the economy and the Scottish population’s wellbeing. 

“I very much welcome HTA’s ongoing engagement with the Scottish Government, in identifying where the sector and Scottish Government can work together to achieve shared ambitions.”

James Barnes, Chairman of HTA, said: “We were delighted to have Christine Grahame MSP, Professor Sir John Curtice, and Minister Jim Fairlie speak at our Holyrood Reception.

“We have seen the horticulture industry in Scotland being recognised from our constructive engagement with the CPG – led by Rachael Hamilton MSP- which has been helpful in gaining a common understanding.

“Be it on the cost of running a business, encouraging the next generation of skilled workers, engaging those in education or finding floral-based health and wellbeing solutions, the HTA is committed to our work in Scotland.”

The HTA hosts a vast schedule of regional meetings throughout the year, details of which are updated regularly on the HTA website: https://hta.org.uk/regional-member-events

Botanics’ Herbarium celebrates milestone achievement

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s (RBGE) project to digitise its renowned Herbarium collection has reached a significant milestone as it celebrates the digitisation of its one millionth specimen.

The digitisation project aims to bridge the gap between the collection and the public by making data visible on an accessible platform – taking an innovative approach to scientific data sharing.

In line with this commitment to empower learners and share their resources, the Garden invited the Expedition Botanics – Secondary Summer Club, a group of 15–18-year-olds with a budding passion for science, to get behind-the-scenes access to the digitisation process of the millionth specimen.

To celebrate the milestone the Herbarium, which holds an ever-growing collection of over three million specimens, RBGE has digitised a specimen of Stereocaulon vesuvianum. The specimen, which is a species of lichen*, was collected by Dr Rebecca Yahr, Lichenologist at the Garden, during an expedition up Ben Nevis to mark 250 years since the first recorded climb up the historic mountain.

The landmark expedition was part of RBGE’s contribution to the Darwin Tree of Life (DToL) project, a groundbreaking genome-sequencing programme aimed at unlocking DNA sequences of all the species in Great Britain and Ireland.

By examining plant and fungal lineages and their characteristics, the Garden works collaboratively with partner organisations, including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Oxford and the University of Edinburgh, to reflect on plants’ ancestry – plantcestry – uncovering invaluable insight into how life on Earth has evolved and how we can support global biodiversity conservation efforts.

Rebecca Yahr said: “Scotland has an important role in international conservation, particularly for lichens. Celebrating the milestone with this important specimen is an exciting opportunity for us to highlight Scotland’s unique biodiversity and extend RBGE’s mission to research and understand lichens more generally.”

The Garden’s Herbarium is home to species from 157 countries – an impressive scientific collection which was historically hard to access. The digitised platform, which showcases the rich and diverse plant lineage, now sees requests come in from across the globe from students, scientists and plant enthusiasts alike.

Closer to the community, the Garden’s Secondary Summer School had the opportunity to engage with the living collection as well as apply their learnings to the natural world. One of the lucky youngsters, 15-year-old Bernice Nwagu, was selected to digitise the millionth specimen, highlighting the Garden’s commitment to investing in future generations and sparking their curiosity in career paths within the industry.

The vibrant working collection, which traces back 350 years, is being digitised into high-resolution images that can be viewed by anyone with an internet connection. It demonstrates not only Scotland’s biodiversity but details regions around the world where RBGE has worked in partnership with local experts for generations.

Democratising access to reference collections such as the Garden’s provides scientists around the globe with an enriched understanding of the environment in their quest to conserve our fragile habitats.

Leading the digitisation project, Professor Olwen Grace, Deputy Director of Science (Collection) and Curator of the Herbarium said: “Being able to share this information with scientific communities as well as the public allows us to develop a more robust understanding of biodiversity challenges and the solutions that can help us build resilience to shifting climates.

“As biodiversity scientists, it’s both the best and worst time for us to be working. It is far easier to share and translate our work on plant lineages to produce models that demonstrate direct impacts and help us tackle problems at national and global scales; however, the acceleration of climate change means that we are in a race against time.

“At the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, we see it as our moral imperative to share this information, especially when we are facing a global biodiversity crisis.”

As part of the Garden’s commitment to building a positive future for biodiversity and providing access to the collection that represents half to two-thirds of the world’s flora, the digitisation process has followed the ‘FAIR Guiding Principles for scientific data management and stewardship’. This has ensured the data has been standardised in terms of findability, accessibility, interoperability and reusability of digital assets.

Get into the festive spirit at Christmas at the Botanics

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh opened its gates to ‘Christmas at the Botanics’ this evening, Thursday 17 November, with an awe-inspiring trail of new installations.  

The Garden, full of Christmas cheer, is inviting the people of Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond to embrace the festive season and to support the trail. A visit to the magical, botanical illuminated trail is a way of helping to fund the Garden’s important plant conservation work. 

Director of Enterprise and Communication at the Garden, Kari Coghill said: “Christmas at the Botanics has increased in popularity each year and has become one of the city’s most popular festive traditions. Its opening is a milestone moment in the capital’s festive calendar that kicks off the holiday season feeling for so many people.  

“Bringing new installations to the trail is exciting and we are also bringing back much-loved favourites this year too, such as the light projection on the front of Inverleith House and the ‘Christmas Cathedral’, a tunnel of sparkling lights which has provided so many fantastic Christmas images for visitors in recent years. 

“Visitors to the light trail contribute directly to our wider work because our profits from ticket sales support the Garden’s plant research and conservation efforts in Scotland and around the world.” 

New Installations: 

·               Lilies by Jigantics, 12 one-metre high LED illuminated lilies floating on the Botanics Pond. 

·               Aurora by Ithaca, recreating the famed visual tones of the stunning Aurora Borealis. 

·               Christmas Gifts by Woody Fox, 14 giant wicker sculptures of Christmas presents. 

·               Feathers by Pyrite Creative, a display of UV feathers up to two metres in length which appear to float in the trees. 

·               Floraison by French artistic collective Pitaya features 240-red-lit flowers. 

·               Edison Trees includes 60 reproductions of the filament bulbs made popular by London’s historic Edison Electric Light Company at the turn of the century. 

This year’s trail is more twinkly than ever but has been created with sustainability in mind. The installations are low in energy usage, over 90% of the trail is LED, and are lit by the Garden’s main power supply to remove the need for generators.

Continuous lighting of trails and paths has been avoided and audience area lighting is only used where it is necessary for public safety.    

Kari Coghill added: “Part of the joy of the trail is that it is a chance to be in the Botanics after dark and to experience the Garden from a whole new perspective.

Our trail designers have been appointed on the strength of their experience of working in environmentally sensitive ways in heritage and landscape settings. This year’s trail is the best yet.” 

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a world-leading scientific organisation, a globally important resource, and a charity funded by the Scottish Government and by visitor income. Visitors to the trail contribute to the Garden’s wider work which addresses biodiversity loss and the impact of the climate crisis. 

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.  

Jonathan Marks, Director at Raymond Gubbay, the division of Sony Music which is promoting the event, said: “It is always exciting to open Christmas at the Botanics. 

“The trail attracted over 90,000 visitors during its five-week run last year and we hope that this year’s trail will inspire even more people to come and enjoy the trail, a festive tradition for so many.  Everyone involved in the production has worked hard to provide a special experience for all who attend as they explore installations old and new.”  

Tickets for this year’s show are available to buy. For further ticket information, pricing and timings, please visit www.rbge.org.uk/christmas.

Visitors are encouraged to book in advance to avoid disappointment.  The trail runs for 37 nights on selected evenings from 17 November to 30 December 2022.  

For more details visit https://mychristmastrails.co.uk/ and follow @mychristmastrails on Facebook and Instagram.