Burns Night at The Botanics

We hae meat and we can eat! Celebrate Burns in style at the Botanics

If you need an excuse to end Dry January early, then Burns Night has arrived just in time! Toast Scotland’s national Bard with an evening of Scottish fare, music and dancing at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Join the Botanics and events partner Sodexo on Friday 25th January 2019, for a night filled with traditional festivities in the venue’s picturesque Gateway Restaurant. Kicking off at 7.30pm, the evening will begin in true Burns spirit with a hot toddy on arrival.

As guests settle in, the Selkirk Grace will be recited, followed by a special three-course Burns Night supper created by Sodexo’s talented team of chefs, kicking off with a warming Scotch broth.

This is followed by the undeniable jewel in the crown of any Burns supper, the haggis. Even Burns himself described it as the “great chieftan o’ the puddin’ race”. Made by Hornigs, the haggis will be accompanied with the classic sides of neeps, tatties and a whisky and chive sauce. However, before guests tuck in, it must be toasted.

In keeping with the long-held tradition, the celebration will begin with the procession of the centrepiece haggis, its address by the Reel Time Piper and finally, its surrender to the plunging dagger blade of the dirk.

To round off the delicious meal on a sweet note, guests will be served Scottish cranachan made with raspberries, cream and toasted oats. This will be followed by live music to play the guests into the small hours with a contemporary twist on traditional music and ceilidh dancing – the perfect end to the feast.

Fraser Sharp, General Manager for Sodexo at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: “Every year, Scotland celebrates Burns Night making it the perfect excuse to bring people together, drink a whisky and share a great meal. So, if you are looking for a unique venue to celebrate Robert Burns’ 260th birthday, why not join us as we pay a lively and joyous tribute to the life and work of our national Bard.”

Tickets cost £45 and are available to book by calling 0131 552 1974.

For more information, please visit www.atthebotanics.co.uk

 

Kickstart your 2019 fitness goals with the Botanics Bootcamp

Get into shape this New Year at the Botanics Bootcamp breakfast event with Sodexo. A high intensity eight-week course located in the stunning surrounds of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, the 60 minute action packed fitness bootcamp will take place every Saturday throughout January and February. Continue reading Kickstart your 2019 fitness goals with the Botanics Bootcamp

Launching Edinburgh’s Shoreline regeneration, naturally

 

Planting seeds of partnership

DSC01201

Ben Macpherson MSP, recently elected member for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, has made his first behind-the-scenes visit to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). The MSP met personnel across the Science and Horticultural Divisions who are behind research and conservation initiatives at home and around the world.

Accompanied by Regius Keeper Simon Milne MBE, Ben Macpherson started his visit in the Library where he was provided with an insight into the archives collection of books and maps dating back over the centuries with Serials Librarian Graham Hardy using historic documents to plot the course of the Garden’s move over four locations in 346 years.

Escorted by Director of Science Professor Pete Hollingsworth, Mr Macpherson was given insight into the workings of the RBGE Herbarium with explanations as to why it is a crucial research and conservation tool for experts around the world.

Following an introduction to the preserved collections by Deputy Herbarium Curator Dr Elspeth Haston, the MSP was invited to play his part in the ongoing digitisation of the Herbarium’s extensive three million plus specimens by photographing Senecio cambrensis Rosser.

This species, a member of thedaisy and dandelion family, was selected appropriately because Senecio cambrensis evolved in Leith, most likely sometime in the last half century. Its evolutionary origin is by hybridisation between two other Senecio species and then subsequent genetic isolation from its parent species. Specimens were first collected in 1974, but it was last seen in 1989

Specimens were first collected in 1974, but it was last seen in 1989. This reflects a fascinating evolutionary example of the origin and extinction of a species within a human life time, and because of this it has been used as a model system for studying the evolutionary process.

Moving from the Herbarium, introductions were exchanged with David Knott, Curator of the Living Collections, and Glasshouse Supervisor Louise Galloway. After a general introduction and explanation of the fact that RBGE is, in fact, four Gardens cultivating a wide diversity of species – including Scottish species – and many of which are included in active conservation and reintroduction programmes, the next part of the visit focused on the non-public research houses. These, it was explained, are home to many specimens being cultivated as vital parts of RBGE’s contribution to global work in the study and conservation of plants from key research groups, many of which are endangered in their native habitats.

Mr Macpherson was also shown photographs of the devastating damaged suffered by the public and research houses in the January 2012 storm, with the Regius Keeper describing the current plans and funding required to replace and upgrade these houses. His visit to the Glasshouses concluded on a lighter note, however, with an introduction to RBGE’s mighty Amorphophallus titanum (titan arum), which spectacularly flowered for the first time 12 months ago.

The final stop of the day was to the recently restored Botanic Cottage (pictured above) which was first built at the Garden’s Leith Walk site in the 18th century. Mr Macpherson was welcomed by Community Engagement Coordinator Sutherland Forsyth who explained the dramatic story so far of this, the Garden’s newest and oldest building.

With a strong interest in community engagement the MSP was keen to hear about the varied band of organisations already using the building for a range of different activities. Bidding farewell he expressed an interest in hearing of further groups who might benefit specifically through engagement with the Cottage and, more generally, with the wider work of RBGE.

RBGE

Botanics’ Spring Festival is perfect ending to National Gardening Week

It’s all grow at The Botanics this weekend!

BotanicsSpring15 - eoincarey_1442

To mark 2016’s National Gardening Week, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is hosting a Spring Festival as People’s Postcode Lottery’s national Charity of the Week. Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have awarded an amazing £450,000 to RBGE for 2016, supporting projects at home and abroad. Continue reading Botanics’ Spring Festival is perfect ending to National Gardening Week