Issue - meetings

By Councillor Day - Royal Botanic Garden

“The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was established in 1670 as a Physic Garden near the Palace of Holyroodhouse.  Founded by two doctors, the aim was to improve medical knowledge in Scotland by growing plants as pharmaceutical materials, teaching about their medicinal properties and regulating plant recipes for medicine.  The Garden prospered and quickly outgrew its original plot, moving several times over the centuries – to an area that is now part of Waverley Station, then to Leith Walk and finally to its Inverleith site by 1823.  It is the second oldest botanic garden in the UK, after Oxford.  Today, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is one of the world’s top four botanic gardens.  Our four Gardens at Edinburgh, Benmore, Logan and Dawyck provide a sanctuary for threatened species and make up a unique collection of plants cared for by horticulturists for scientific research, conservation, education, engagement and enjoyment.  We are one of Scotland’s leading visitor destinations, attracting around one million visitors a year to our Gardens.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, the city will celebrate with several activities;

•           The City of Edinburgh Council – the Garden will be the 2020 theme for the Floral Clock in Princes Street.

•           The National Museum of Scotland on a joint RBGE/NMS biodiversity focused expedition to Papua New Guinea, and on the international conference for the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections.

•           The National Galleries of Scotland on their Scotland-wide art competition for schools.

•           The Filmhouse cinema on a botanical season of films.

•           Network Rail on a commemoration of the Garden’s second site.

•           Dunedin Consort and the Queen’s Hall on a botanically-inspired concert.

Council therefore agrees to ask the Lord Provost to acknowledge the occasion in an appropriate manner.”