Work is almost complete at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RGBE) to save the Palm Houses thanks to gifts of more than £10 million from six major charitable organisations.
In the past four years £10.6 million has been raised to enable the Georgian and Victorian structures to be completely overhauled. It is the philanthropic support from charities over and above a part of the £58 million investment by The Scottish Government in the Edinburgh Biomes programme which has made the renovation of the A-listed glass houses possible. Around 2,000 members of the public also supported the fundraising effort.
Work on the Palm Houses is now almost complete and the team of horticulturists will now carry out the landscaping of the areas both in and around them. The planting will include more than 600 botanical specimens, ahead of the reopening to the public next year. As anyone who went to see the work by musician Karine Polwart – Windblown – during the Fringe will know the 200 year-old sabal palm which was a main feature in the glass houses has been removed as it was too unsteady to survive and too vulnerable to be moved. The seedling originally came from the Caribbean, arriving at Leith Docks on a cargo ship.
Simon Milne, Regius Keeper said: “At a time when around 45 per cent of the world’s plant species are threatened, the transformation of our Palm Houses — made possible through the extraordinary power of philanthropy—is both timely and essential. These beautifully restored buildings will not only conserve precious botanical collections but also provide an inspiring platform to engage people of all ages with the natural world.
“This project is a celebration of vision, generosity, and shared responsibility. We are deeply grateful to our major funders and the many individuals and organisations who have helped us reach this pivotal moment. Together, we are creating a legacy of learning, conservation, and action—one that will echo far beyond the glass walls of the Palm Houses.”
Caroline Clark, Director for Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we are proud to support the restoration of these precious Victorian glasshouses and their important plant collections. It is a privilege to help secure the future of these beautiful buildings, part of Scotland’s scientific and botanical heritage.
“Interpretation and visitor activities alongside the restoration work mean new and compelling stories about this heritage are being revealed for visitors from Scotland and across the world.”
Support from major funding organisations includes:
- National Lottery Heritage Fund – £4.8m
- The Julia Rausing Trust – £1.5m
- Villum Foundation, part of the VELUX foundations – £1.038m
- Wolfson Foundation – £750k
- Garfield Weston Foundation – £500k
- Historic Environment Scotland – £500k
Edinburgh Biomes is the most exciting and visionary project being undertaken by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) since its relocation to its fourth site at Inverleith in 1820. The project aims to conserve plant life for generations to come and is central to RBGE’s response to the twin challenges of the biodiversity crisis and climate emergency.
