Further funding for Botanic Gardens

September 2007

Construction of a new visitor centre at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh can begin after a further £1 million of funding was awarded by the Scottish government.

The £16 million building will feature a glass wall that will give visitors the sensation of standing amidst the flora of the garden outside, according to Visit Scotland.

In order to boost the sustainability of the centre the funding will also be used to create wind turbines, a biomass boiler and rainwater collection.

Almost double the size of any other buildings around the Botanic Gardens' West Gate at 2,746 square metres, the new visitor centre will have live video links to scientists working on conservation projects in 40 countries and displays of rare and endangered plants.

Visit Scotland also announced that a £1.8 million refurbishment programme at the Queensferry Hotel near Edinburgh has been completed.

The association said that this will provide a "major boost" to the Fife economy by attracting more visitors to the region.

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