What s on. Spring

Transcription

1 What s on Spring

2 Discover a world of plants The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, founded in 1670, is a world-renowned centre for plant research, conservation and education. Its four remarkable Gardens the Botanics in Edinburgh, Benmore in Argyll, Logan in Galloway and Dawyck in the Borders grow more than 15,000 species between them, making this one of the richest plant collections in the world. Discover more about this fascinating world of plants through an exciting programme of exhibitions, interactive experiences, events and activities. 2

3 Highlights The Lost Words an Exhibition Sat 19 May Sat 2 Sep The Lost Words celebrates the relationship between language and the living world, and of nature s power to spark the imagination. See Page 17 Snowdrop and Early Spring Interest Walks Fri 2, Sat 3, Sun 4, Fri 9, Sat 10 & Sun 11 March, 11:00 meet at John Hope Gateway reception age please call to reserve your place Join a Garden Guide on a walk to discover the Gardens wonderful collection of specialist snowdrops and discover other early flowering plants that herald the onset of spring. Scottish Rhododendron Festival Sun 1 April Thurs 31 May, 10:00 18:00 daily all ages Enjoy wonderful displays of rhododendrons at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, a centre for rhododendron studies since the 19th century. Together, our four Gardens Edinburgh, Benmore, Dawyck and Logan have one of the world s richest collections. Enjoy the superb colour of the rhododendrons that bloom outdoors and also explore the exotic rhododendrons in the Edinburgh Glasshouses. RBGE has the largest cultivated collection of tropical rhododendrons, which thrive in early spring within the Montane Tropics Glasshouse. Scottish Rhododendron Festival in association with Discover Scottish Gardens: 3

4 Plants and Gardens Daily Garden Walks Daily from 1 April to 31 October, 11:00 and 14:00 (1 hour) meet at John Hope Gateway ages 14+ reception 6 Celebrate the seasons and join our expert Garden Guides on a tour of the Garden. Discover seasonal highlights, hidden treasures and talks of the intrepid adventurers behind the plants on display. Lichen Safari Trail Available from the John Hope Gateway and East Gate Lodge (daily) 1 per trail booklet Pick up a Lichen Safari and explore the hidden, tiny world of lichens at the Botanics. Find out how lichens play a vital role in our environment. There is so much more to these tiny organisms than meets the eye. Building for Nature Trail Available from the John Hope Gateway and East Gate Lodge 1 per trail Discover the stories behind the buildings of the Botanics in a new garden trail, part of our contribution to the 2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology. Big Garden Bird Watch Sun 28 January, 11:00 15:45 Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway all ages free Are there fewer blackbirds these days? Are blue tits ruling the roost? Every year, half a million people take part in the RSPB s Big Garden Birdwatch to find out. Join the RSPB and contribute to the largest garden bird survey ever! With RSPB Scotland 4

5 Plants and Gardens Meet the Edible Gardening Team Every Monday and Tuesday, 13:00 14:30 (drop in) Demonstration Garden all ages free Pop in anytime, and look out for the team at work in the garden. Take a walk around our productive garden with the Edible Gardening Project volunteers, find out what jobs need doing in your own garden now, and have your vegetable-growing questions answered. Supported by players of People s Postcode Lottery Pots of Fun Mon 2, Tues 3 April 13:00 2:30 and Sat 7 April 14:00 16:00 (drop in) Botanic Cottage and Demonstration Garden all ages free Join in the potting shed fun with Easter holiday growing activities for all the family. Supported by players of People s Postcode Lottery Spring Festival Sat 28 and Sun 29 April, 13:00 16:00 (drop in) Botanic Cottage and Demonstration Garden all ages free Come and join in with the Edible Gardening Project as we get started in the vegetable patch for another year. Be inspired by nature and learn all about gardening in an environmentally friendly way. With information for budding gardeners, fun family friendly activities and fresh garden tasters. Supported by players of People s Postcode Lottery Meet the Edible Garden Team: Wildlife Friendly Gardening Sat 5 May, 14:00 16:00 (drop in) Demonstration Garden all ages free Find out who your garden friends are and how to attract them in to your garden. We will be showing you gardening for our flying, hopping and crawling friends! Supported by players of People s Postcode Lottery 5

6 Science and Nature Children s Spring Flower Show Sat 24 and Sun 25 March, 12:00 17:00 Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway all ages free The children s daffodil competition is part of the RCHS Spring Flower Show. Come and see the floral displays and get involved with hands-on activities. With The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society #Pianodrome Resonancy Sat 7 Sat 14 April, 10:00 17:00 Inverleith House all ages free In summer 2018, artist Tim Vincent-Smith and his team will be building an amphitheatre entirely from discarded pianos to grace the Garden, and we need your help to make it happen. A first-of-its-kind performance space, the #Pianodrome will bring art, music, science, movement and creativity under one geodesic dome roof. Join us to create artistic interventions and build experimental instruments. Book a place or just drop-in. With Pianodrome Geodome Workshop Sat 7 April and Fri 13 April, 10:00 13:00 Inverleith House all ages 15, 7 (concession) booking via Learn the basics of Buckyballs. Using the 88 keys salvaged from a single piano keyboard, we will piece together unique geodesic artworks based on Buckminster Fuller s theories about how to make efficient structures using maths. Participants will create their own geodesic models to take home, before working together to build a unique artwork that will grace the Pianodrome on its completion. With Pianodrome 6

7 Science and Nature Instrument Making Workshop Sat 7 April and Fri 13 April, 14:00 15:00 Inverleith House all ages 20, 10 (concessions) booking via Explore the different sounds that can be made by tapping, bowing, plucking and blowing the various parts of a piano that has been fully dissected. Explore the resonant properties of different woods, metals and felt pieces. Develop your own instrument design with the help of our resident experts in woodwork and acoustics, and then get building! Participants will be allowed to take their completed instrument home with them. With Pianodrome Piano Dissection LIVE Sun 8 April, 14:00 17:00 Inverleith House all ages free event, donations welcome Join the #Pianodrome team as they disassemble one of the 52 pianos they will use to build their upcycled amphitheatre, with live commentary by the makers and musical interludes throughout. Appreciate the meticulous workmanship and centuries worth of innovation that has gone in to creating each one of these complex and beautiful machines. With Pianodrome #Pianodrome Wood ID Workshop Sat 14 April, 11:00 13:00 Inverleith House all ages 15, 12 (concessions) booking via A typical piano contains between 8 and 16 different species of wood each part is carefully designed to achieve a very specific purpose, with a wood species selected to match. The hammers must be tough, the soundboard should be resonant and the case beautiful. Join Daniel Ridley-Ellis and Stefan Lehneke from the Centre for Wood Technology at Edinburgh Napier University to discover which wood is used for each part of the piano, and how to tell your beech from your birch. 7

8 Science and Nature Piano Tree Tour Sat 14 April, 13:00 14:00 route begins at Inverleith House 14+ 6, 4 (concessions) booking via Meet the piano maker s favourite trees at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. This guided tour is specially produced to celebrate the Pianodrome installation at the Garden and will visit trees species that have been used to build pianos over the centuries. Ideal for tree lovers and musicians alike. Led by Max Coleman, the Garden s Science Communicator What is a #Pianodrome? Sat 14 April, 14:00 17:00 Inverleith House all ages free, donations welcome There s one thing we are sure of the #Pianodrome will be nothing without a buzzing creative community around it. We invite you to attend an actionpacked afternoon exploring the potential uses of this incredible space. With live music, an interview with the makers, drop-in workshops and interactive installations. With Pianodrome #Pianodrome fundraiser Sat 14 April, 19:00 22:00 Inverleith House , 10 (concessions) booking via An evening of music, dance, dynamic artworks and storytelling, exploring the mathematics of sound and geometry. With interactive artworks created by the #Pianodrome team, live performances from Edinburgh s dynamic musical explorers, Sink, and a special collaboration with the Tinderbox Collective spanning five exhibition rooms in Inverleith House. With Pianodrome C4 Rice The Agricultural Apollo Challenge Thur 5 April, 18:00 Lecture Theatre 14+ free The C4 Rice Project is one of the scientific Grand Challenges of the 21st Century. Predicted population increases mean that the area of rice production that fed 27 people in 2010 will have to feed 43 by Technologies are available to potentially super-charge photosynthesis in rice by introducing C4 biochemical pathways that function in maize. Professor Jane Langdale will review current progress towards this goal, and explore how this revolution could increase yield under a smaller cultivated area, with lower inputs, and a less predictable water supply. 8

9 Science and Nature The New Wild Why Invasive Species will be Nature s Salvation Thu 12 April, 18:00 Lecture Theatre 14+ 8, 6 (concessions) From parakeets to Japanese knotweed, invasive non-native species are accused of harming our native wildlife. Fred Pearce challenges this widespread view and asks whether demonising these species is backed-up by the science. In the vast majority of cases, these species are model ecological citizens. Some of the perceived problem species may even be the crucial first step towards repairing ecological damage caused by our actions. Maybe it is time we learned to love this new wild? Nature of Food Sat 7 Fri 13 April, 11:00 16:00 Real Life Science Studio all ages free Food is connected with just about every aspect of our lives. With a Good Food Nation Bill on the way, SEFARI presents a week of tasty science exploring what we eat and how the nation s diet affects our health and the health of the natural world. Fun and engaging drop-in activities developed in association with Young Scot will be accompanied by a series of pop-up talks presented by SEFARI at 2pm and 3pm each day. With SEFARI Your Botanics An Open Evening Wed 18 April, 18:00 20:00 Lecture Theatre, 20A Inverleith Row age 14+ free, but please book in advance at The flowering of our titan arum, fondly called New Reekie, was a big event in The Open Evening will present developments and discoveries since the flower was pollinated. Join us to hear about work to secure the future of this plant in its native Indonesia, and find out how some of the incredible film footage of the flowering was captured. There will be an opportunity to ask questions in an open forum and to find out more about the Garden s achievements and future plans. Refreshments will be served in the Conference Room prior to the presentations. Worldwide Day of Botanical Art Fri 18 May, 11:00 16:00 Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway all ages free Celebrate Worldwide Day of Botanical Art by meeting artists involved in the Flora Scotia exhibition and taking part in a large collaborative botanical painting of native plants, many of which can be found growing in the Garden. 9

10 Family Activities Art Explorers First Sunday of every month (from Sun 6 Jan) 12 noon 15:00 Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway 3pp taking part, children must be supervised Drop in to our monthly family sessions where we will explore art and crafts that are about nature in all its wonder. Linking with the themes of exhibitions and events happening throughout the year at RBGE, we will have fun exploring reclaimed and natural materials, making something for you to take home. Me and My Bee Sun 8 Wed 11 April, Shows begin 11:00 & 14:00 Lecture Theatre all ages 6, 4 (concessions) for bookings visit A rarity deliciously eccentric Lyn Gardner for The Guardian Our fuzzy little friends need our help and so we re launching a political party, disguised as a party party, disguised as a show. Multi award-winning theatre company, ThisEgg, invites you to save the world one bee at a time. A new comedy for children and adults alike. Plant the seed for change, join the Bee Party. Before it s too late The Scotsman The List Three Weeks Edinburgh Festival For Kids The Stage A Younger Theatre a riotous, cleverly constructed and completely in awe hilarious family show 10

11 Family Activities Easter Trail Fri 30 March Mon 16 April, 10:00 16:00 Daily Age 3+ Pick up a trail booklet from John Hope Gateway Reception Desk 2 per trail Join us for our annual RBGE Easter Trail through the Garden. Complete the trail and receive your yummy Easter treat! Connect with Nature Festival n Lost Words and Flora Scotia Private View Friday 18 May, John Hope Gateway/Inverleith House 10 (Friends 8) Celebrate the opening of the Lost Words exhibition and an international link-up with artists around the world, with work highlighting each country s native flora. There will be opportunities to take part in activities that will help you be creative and connect or re-connect with Nature, or you can simply listen to good music, meet some artists and enjoy a glass of wine. n Connect With Nature Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 May, various times & venues 22 weekend ( 30 including Private View); 12 day ticket Our first festival of nature writing that brings together some of our most inspiring authors and poets. With the backdrop of the Lost Words exhibition, we present a programme of talks, readings and workshops that will appeal to people of all ages who have an interest in the natural world around them. For details of the individual events, visit our Connect with Nature website (from 1 March). 11

12 Garden Get Togethers Garden Social for Dementia First Fri of the month, 10:30 12:00 Botanic Cottage drop in, up to three per party age 16+ free Free sessions with refreshments and activities. Inspired by the Garden for people affected by dementia. Numbers are limited. For larger group visits please call or Botanic Cottage Open Day Tours First Fri and Sat of the month, 13:30 and 15:00, Sat 15:00 Botanic Cottage all ages free Join a free, drop in, public tour of the Botanic Cottage and discover how it was saved and rebuilt. Arrive early to avoid disappointment as numbers are limited. Cyrenians Cook Club Starts Fri 12 Jan 2018 Jun 2018, 10:30 14:00 Botanic Cottage free Fortnightly Community Cook Club. Cyrenians support the initial set up and running of the clubs by sourcing food from FareShare and supporting members to prepare nutritious meals. For more information, foodeducation@cyrenians.scot Reading Together, Open Book drop-in book group Every Thu, 10:30 12:00 Botanic Cottage free, drop in If you love reading, come to a book group with a difference, where stories and poems are read aloud and discussed over tea and coffee. Led by the charity, Open Book 12

13 Craft in the Cottage Learn a Craft in the Botanic Cottage One-day craft workshops where you learn a new skill and take something home you have made. With experienced tutors and all materials provided. Lunch and refreshments included. To book a place, contact Education on , 9:00 15:30, Mon Fri Soy Candles Sat 27 Jan, 11:00 15:30 Botanic Cottage ( 45 Members) Learn the art of making scented container candles using natural soy wax and essential oils with Kerrylyn Bell. Handmade Books Sat 3 Feb, 11:00 15:30 Botanic Cottage ( 45 Members) Create your own handmade book or journal, incorporating natural materials inspired by the Garden with Cassandra Baron. Wooden Spoons Sat 17 Feb, 11:00 15:30 Botanic Cottage ( 45 Members) Carve your own wooden spoon. Introducing basic wood carving and finishing techniques with Jasper Hamlet. Willow Baskets Saturday 3 Mar 11:00 15:30 Botanic Cottage 50 ( 45 Members) Produce your own willow basket with Anna Liebmann using traditional willow basketry techniques. Ecoprint Books Sat 2 Jun 11:00 15:30 Botanic Cottage 50 ( 45 Members) Join Cass Barron, of Bookbinding with Cass, and Elisabeth Viguie-Culshaw, of The Lansdowne House of Stencils, for a creative workshop introducing the techniques of eco-printing and French-link stitch binding. Please bring any papers and leaves that you would like to experiment with. 13

14 Calendar of Events February Daily from Feb 1 Lichen Safari Trail 4 Daily from Feb 1 Building for Nature Trail 4 Fortnightly from Jan 12 Cyrenians Book Club 12 Every Mon and Tue Meet the Edible Garden Team 4 Every Thu Reading Together, open book group 12 Fri 2 Garden Social for Dementia 12 Fri 2, Sat 3 Botanic Cottage Open Day Tours 12 Sun 4 Art Explorers 10 Sat 17 Learn a Craft Wooden Spoons 13 March Daily from Feb 1 Lichen Safari Trail 4 Daily from Feb 1 Building for Nature Trail 4 Fri 2 Sun 4 Snowdrop and Early Spring Interest Walks 3 Fri 2 Garden Social for Dementia 12 Fri 2, Sat 3 Botanic Cottage Open Day Tours 12 Every Mon & Tue Meet the Edible Garden Team 4 Sat 3 Learn a Craft: Willow Baskets 13 Sat 3 Meet the Edible Garden Team: Spring into Action 5 Fri 9 Sun 11 Snowdrop and Early Spring Interest Walks 3 Sat 24, Sun 25 Children s Spring Flower Show 6 Sun 4 Art Explorers 10 Thur 15 Evening Talk: Scottish Plant Hunters 24 Fri 30 Easter Trail 11 April Daily from Feb 1 Lichen Safari Trail 4 Daily from Feb 1 Building for Nature Trail 4 Sun 1 Apr Mon 16 Easter Trail 11 Sun 1 31 Oct Daily Garden Walks 4 Sun 1 Wed 31 May Scottish Rhododendron Festival 3 Sun 1 Art Explorers 10 Every Mon & Tue Meet the Edible Garden Team 4 Mon 2, Tue 3 Pots of Fun 5 Thur 5 C4 rice The Agricultural Apollo Challenge 8 Fri 6 Garden Social for Dementia 12 Fri 6, Sat 7 Botanic Cottage Open Day Tours 12 Sat 7 Fri 13 Nature of Food

15 Calendar of Events Sat 7, Fri 13 Geodome Workshop 6 Sat 7, Fri 13 Instrument Making Workshop 7 Sat 7 Sun 14 Pianodrome Resonancy 6 Sun 8 Wed 11 Me and My Bee 10 Sun 8 Piano Dissection Live 7 Thu 12 The New Wild Why Invasive Species will be Nature s Salvation 8 Sat 14 Pianodrome Wood ID Workshop 7 Sat 14 Piano Tree Tour 8 Sat 14 What is a Pianodrome? 8 Sat 14 Pianodrome Fundraiser 8 Wed 18 Your Botanics An Open Evening 9 Sat 28 An Afternoon with Carol Klein 24 Sat 28, Sun 29 Spring Festival 5 May Daily from Feb 1 Lichen Safari Trail 4 Daily from Feb 1 Building for Nature Trail 4 Every Mon and Tue Meet the Edible Garden Team 4 Sun 1 Wed 31 May Scottish Rhododendron Festival 3 Fri 4 Garden Social for Dementia 12 Fri 4, Sat 5 Botanic Cottage Open Day Tours 12 Sat 5 Meet the Edible Garden Team: Wildlife Friendly Gardening 5 Sun 6 Art Explorers 10 Fri 18 Worldwide day of Botanical Art 9 Fri 18, Sat 19, Sun 20 Connect with Nature Festival 11 June Daily from Feb 1 Lichen Safari Trail 4 Daily from Feb 1 Building for Nature Trail 4 Every Mon and Tue Meet the Edible Garden Team 4 Fri 1 Garden Social for Dementia 12 Fri 1, Sat 2 Botanic Cottage Open Day Tours 12 Sat 2 Learn a Craft: Eco print Books 13 Sun 3 Art Explorers 10 Exhibitions Nov 2017 Sun 18 March Coffee: A Global Success 16 Fri 30 Mar Sun 3 June Flora Scotia 16 Sat 19 May Sun 2 Sep The Lost Words: An Exhibition

16 Arts in the Garden Image: An intricately detailed study of bitter vetch (Lathyrus linifolius) both above and below the ground, by Sarah Roberts Coffee: A Global Success Jan 2017 Sun 18 Mar 2018, 10:00 15:45 (Nov Jan), 10:00 16:45 (Feb), 10:00 17:45 (Mar Apr) John Hope Gateway Ground Floor Exhibition Space all ages free Coffee is a global success and Coffea arabica is the most important economically amongst more than 100 coffee species. Around the world, only a few genetic variants are grown, while in the plant s region of origin, south-west Ethiopia, a rich and unique genetic diversity can be found. Discover the part played by RBGE in coffee s success story, and learn about the need to study and preserve the last habitats of wild Arabica coffee in the montane rainforests of Ethiopia and give them lasting protection for future generations. Flora Scotia Fri 30 Mar to Sun 3 Jun 2018, 10:00 17:45 daily John Hope Gateway all ages free Celebrating the richness of native plants in Scotland and their importance in our lives, this exhibition displays the excellence and variety of styles of botanical artists working in Scotland today. Come on a journey across habitats from mountains, through woodlands, cities, grasslands, wetlands and down to the seashore, discovering plant stories and the current research and conservation work of RBGE along the way. This exhibition is Scotland s contribution to Botanical Art Worldwide: linking people with plants through botanical art, an international collaborative project that includes Worldwide Day of Botanical Art, 18 May 2018, during which an online exhibition of botanical art from around the world will be shown. 16

17 Arts in the Garden Image: Jamie Woodley/Compton Verney. The Lost Words an Exhibition 19 May 2 Sep : daily Inverleith House all ages The Lost Words is a unique collaborative project between writer Robert Macfarlane and artist Jackie Morris. Taking the form of both an exhibition and a book, The Lost Words celebrates the relationship between language and the living world, and of nature s power to spark the imagination. Nature seems increasingly to be retreating from our children s stories and imaginations. In response to this widening gulf between childhood and the natural world, The Lost Words seeks to conjure that vanishing wildness back into existence through images and writing. Robert Macfarlane has created a series of spell-poems one for each lost word while Jackie Morris, inspired by her lifelong passion for Britain s landscapes and wildlife, has painted beautiful watercolours and used gold leaf to take the viewer on a journey that makes the familiar magical once more. The Lost Words is curated by Compton Verney, with Hamish Hamilton and Penguin Books. DON T MISS an evocative exhibition designed to keep children and adults in touch with nature. Plant Life Magazine 17

18 Dawyck Botanic Garden Spring is one of the best seasons to visit Dawyck when bluebells and rhododendrons put on spectacular displays. Colour Me Botanical, an exhibition by Sharon Griggs Until Sun 29 Apr, 10:00 The Studio free Don t miss this inspiring exhibition of work by Scottish botanical artist Sharon Giggs. Sharon uses the medium of professional coloured pencil to create very detailed work inspired by nature. Sunday Guided Tours Each Sun at free with normal garden admission Join a Guided Tour and learn about the history and plant collections at Dawyck. The Garden is home to some of Britain s oldest and tallest trees. Guided tours in spring will include a look at the Garden s internationally renowned collection of rhododendrons. Early Morning Bird Walks Sat 28 April, 12 and 26 May, 07:00 free with Garden admission Join one of our Saturday early morning bird walks. Come and see how many bird species you can spot at Dawyck. Don t forget to bring your binoculars tel

19 Dawyck Botanic Garden Scottish Rhododendron Festival Sun 1 Apr to Thu 31 May, 10:00 17:00 free with Garden admission Enjoy a walk around Dawyck s unique and valuable rhododendron collection. The Scrape Glen and Rhododendron Walk are in colour from April onwards. Kalamkari at Dawyck Sun 6 May Sun 5 Aug, 10:00 The Studio free Come and see an exhibition of work by mixed media artists using the Indian Kalamkari technique to decorate textiles. Kalamkari at Dawyck features work inspired by the Garden and the natural landscape. Spring Bring and Buy Plant Sale Sun 27 May, 10:00 15:00 free admission Come and buy new plants for your garden. You are also welcome to donate plants from your own garden to the sale. Please can you label them if possible? The event is organised by Friends of Dawyck and money raised will help fund the work of the Garden. A Date for the Diary Sun 3 Jun, 13:45 15:30 Book soon for our sensory tour of the Garden, a bespoke guided walk to awaken the senses. tel

20 Education Short Courses We run weekly classes and weekend workshops in many subjects from botany and horticulture, to herbology, garden history, art and wellbeing. For beginners to advanced, we aim to provide something for all! For current course listings pick up a copy of our programme or view it online: Professional Courses For those that wish to take their studies further and gain a qualification, we have a fantastic range of professional courses including Certificates, Diplomas and BSc & MSc Degrees. As well as courses that run at RBGE, we also have a range of blended/ distance learning courses that allow you to study with us wherever you are. RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture (Distance Learning) Whether you are starting a career in horticulture, or just want to take your love of plants and gardening further, this course gives you a broad-based understanding of horticulture, garden design and how plants work. You can learn from the comfort of your own home with us, wherever you are, using PropaGate Learning. Find out more at: onlinecourses.rbge.ac.uk. Schools and Teacher CPD We offer a high level curriculum focussed schools programme for primary and secondary schools, as well as bespoke CPD training for teachers. Our programme offers unique adventures from rainforest to teddy bears picnics and is a wonderful way to bring the subjects alive. To find out more or to book on any of our courses, please contact us on or education@rbge.org.uk 20

21 Education Highlights Image: Liz Cole. Short courses and weekend workshops can be booked by calling the Education Department on Here are just a few of the courses we have running over the next few months. Workshops n Digital Plant Photography Sat 17 and 24 Mar 09:45 15:30 80 ( 72 Members) Learn how to get the most out of your digital camera and discover the advantages of taking plant photographs digitally. This introductory course over two Saturdays will teach you how to use your camera for the best results. n Pulp Magic! Sat 10 Mar 10:30 16:30 60 ( 54 Members) Transform waste paper and plants into an array of beautiful handmade papers and sculptured landscapes. n Two Feet, One Mind A Contemplative Walking Workshop Tue 1, 8, 15, 22, or 29 May 18:00 20:00 15 Mindfulness-based techniques to maximise the benefits of time spent in beautiful places. Held in the Botanics after closing time, suitable for absolute beginners or experienced meditators. Short Courses n Introduction to Horticulture Wed 25 Apr 27 Jun 19:00 21:00 99 ( 89 Members) A ten-week theoretical course covering a range of topics from soil science to pruning to plant anatomy. Suitable as an overview of horticulture for absolute beginners or as a stepping stone to the RHS (level 2) Certificate in Horticulture. 21

22 Eat, Drink, Shop The Terrace Café The Terrace Café located in the heart of the Edinburgh Garden, complete with stunning views across the Edinburgh skyline has been completely transformed. Why not visit for, informal service and a broad range of speciality coffees, teas, home bakes, soups, light snacks, salads and freshly prepared hot dishes, all served within a fresh and vibrant new interior. The Gateway Restaurant A delightful location to enjoy breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea with a beautiful outlook into the Garden. You ll find an array of freshly prepared hot dishes and lighter options, many including produce grown right here in the Garden. To book a table, please call , info@gatewayrestaurant.net or visit the restaurant website East Gate Coffee Bar A great refreshment stop near the Garden s East Gate, where you can find a selection of snacks, sandwiches and speciality teas and coffees for take away. All locations open daily all year round from 10:00. Your Event at the Garden The Garden is the perfect location for your special event and has delightful venues for Weddings and other private or family occasions, including a full festive programme. Please contact our Sales Team for more information: or sales@gatewayrestaurant.net 22

23 Eat, Drink, Shop Shopping at the Botanics Come and enjoy the spring season at the Botanics. While you are here, why not pay the Botanics Shop a visit? Whether you are looking for a special gift or a treat for yourself, there is a wide selection of garden-inspired gifts on offer, ranging from exclusive homeware, jewellery, accessories and stationery to specialist books and children s gifts. This season we are launching an exclusive range of ceramics as part of our new Palm House Collection, featuring a delightful illustration originally made in 1964 and sourced from RBGE s Library and Archive. This fine bone china collection is made in the UK. Meconopis (often referred to as blue poppy) can be seen in full bloom at the garden in around May and June. This season we have collaborated with the renowned designer Dee Hardwicke to create an exclusive homeware collection that captures the beauty and delicacy of this distinctive flower. The Meconopsis range is made in the UK and will be available from late May. If you are looking for unusual plants, seeds or bulbs, good quality garden tools, planters or accessories for the garden then do visit our Garden shop. Our plants are carefully sourced from many local growers with an emphasis on quality. This spring we are launching our own exclusive range of Botanics planters in four sizes to complement our beautiful plant selection. Our knowledgeable staff are also on hand to assist with your gardening questions. The Botanics Shop is located at the John Hope Gateway West Gate entrance and is open daily in line with garden opening times. Become an RBGE Member and enjoy a discount at the shop (some exclusions apply). Every purchase supports the important work of the Garden. 23

24 RBGE Friends Events Evening Talk: Scottish Plant Hunters Thu 15 Mar, 18:00 for 18:30 20:30 Lecture Theatre, 20a Inverleith Row 9, Members 6 Why did so many plant hunters hail from Scotland? Anne Lindsay, author of Seeds of Blood and Beauty, will explain why so many Scots became embroiled in tales of daring-do across the globe in search of plants to brighten gardens, conservatories and lives in the 18th and 19th centuries. Joint lecture by the Friends of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Scotland s Garden and Landscape Heritage Tour of the Glasshouses and Friends of RBGE AGM Wed 11 April, AGM 18:00, Tour 18:30 Lecture Theatre AGM, free; Tour 7, 5 Members The Friends AGM will be followed by a guided tour of the Glasshouses. An Afternoon with Carol Klein Sat 28 April Lecture Theatre, 20a Inverleith Row per event or for both; Box Office: or Tel: ( 1.50 admin fee applies to phone bookings) One of our most familiar gardening experts in the media today, Carol Klein is most famous for her role as regular presenter of BBC Gardeners World. Her natural, down-to-earth approach has made her a popular and trusted figure, and she makes a special journey to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for two events. Event 1: Life in a Cottage Garden. 13:00 14:15 Join Carol for an audio-visual stroll through the seasons in her glorious cottage garden. Event 2: In Conversation A Gardener s Life. 15:45 17:00 A fascinating discussion on Carol s work in conversation with BBC Radio Scotland s Theresa Talbot. Supported by the Friends of RBGE 24

25 Become a Friend Become a Friend of the Royal Botanic Garden, and enjoy reduced ticket prices to many of our events as well as invitations to exclusive member-only events. Your membership will also entitle you to: n Free entry to the Glasshouses in Edinburgh n Free admission to Dawyck, Benmore and Logan Botanic Gardens n 10% discount in our shops and cafes n 10% discount and priority booking for RBGE short courses n The Botanics magazine delivered electronically or direct to your door n Regular updates by on the rich calendar of events at the Botanics To find out more about the support provided by the Friends of RBGE and how you can get involved, come along to any of the Annual General Meetings in April. Further details can be found at

26 Support Us Celebrate Life is our unique commemorative programme to help you celebrate a special occasion or remember a loved one in our Gardens. Create your personal commemoration by choosing from five different schemes, each with its own benefits: n Bench Adoptions n Commemorative Book n Hope Tree n Memory Garden Tablets n Tree Adoptions The most recent additions include Bench and Tree Adoptions at our Regional Gardens at Benmore, Dawyck and Logan, so you can now remember your loved ones in these beautiful Gardens. Celebrate Life is a fundraising initiative for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Your purchase supports our vital charitable work, from caring for our four Gardens, to delivering hands-on horticultural education to inspire children about the natural world. Prices across the programme range from 50 to 5,000. For more information, or to discuss your personal commemoration with a member of our team, please visit celebratelife.rbge.org.uk or call

27 Image: Helen Pugh. Become a Friend Join the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as a Friend and help us to explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future For more information call us on or visit The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a charity registered in Scotland (number SC007983).

28 A830 A85 Oban A89 Fort William A82 A9 How to Find Us To Inverness Crieff A956 A9 DUNDEE PERTH St Andrews Benmore STIRLING M90 A82 Botanic Garden Gourock M9 Royal Botanic Dunoon M8 Garden Edinburgh GLASGOW A78 A702 M77 Peebles A83 Lanark A1 Arran Kilmarnock Dawyck M74 Botanic Campbeltown Ayr Garden Alnwick Girvan A7 A77 Dumfries A68 Stranraer A75 Gretna NEWCASTLE Castle UPON TYNE Logan Douglas CARLISLE Botanic Garden M6 A1M Arboretum Place or Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR Garden admission is free. Charges for Glasshouses. Adult 6.50, Concessions 5.50, under 16s free*. 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs. Tel Stobo, near Peebles, Scottish Borders EH45 9JU Admission Adult 6.50, Concessions 5.50, under 16s free*. March 10:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs, April to June 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs. Tel Dunoon, Argyll, PA23 8QU Admission Adult 6.50, Concessions 5.50, under 16s free*. March 10:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs, April to June 10:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs. Tel Port Logan, Dumfries & Galloway DG9 9ND Admission Adult 6.50, Concessions 5.50, under 16s free*. 1 March to 15 November 10:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs (16:00 hrs in November) and Sundays only in February Tel *Prices include a small donation to the Garden. Printed by Potts Print (UK) Ltd (CM 02/18). All information correct at time of going to press, for further information check our website. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) sponsored and supported through Grant-in-Aid by the Scottish Government s Environment and Forestry Directorate (ENFOR). The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a Charity registered in Scotland (number SC007983).