A week after its record-breaking plant sale, Dawyck Botanic Garden, near Peebles, resumes a more relaxed countenance on Sunday, June 3, when a Sensory Tour provides visitors with the opportunity to touch, smell and interact with a selection of features in the world-renowned arboretum.

With nearly 400 people turning out to support the Garden's main annual fund raiser, there was cheer that the £2388 achieved will boost crucial research and conservation work at Dawyck and the other three sites of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

Now thoughts are back to regular activities designed to encourage people of all ages and abilities to engage with nature. While Sunday's bespoke Garden Walk has been developed with visually impaired visitors in mind, it is open to everyone.

Led by experienced Garden Guide Inga Stewart, the route will include an explanation of the Garden's history, its historic plant collections and modern plantings. There will be opportunities for participants to touch and interact with selected plants along the way and many seasonal delights such as rhododendrons, bluebells and Himalayan blue poppies will be flagged-up. The tour was developed by Inga when she was considering how best to introduce a visually impaired friend to the delights of Dawyck. It will be undertaken on a network of accessible paths, up to one kilometre long depending on requests from the group.

"Inga is to be congratulated for her initiative in developing this Sensory Tour" said Dawyck Curator Graham Stewart. "This kind of experience is generally regarded as having positive effects on health and well-being. We see it as an important way of helping more people feel they can engage with the environment."

The Sensory Tour starts from the Visitor Cents at 13:45 and is free with normal Garden admission. However, places are limited to 12 so it is advisable to book ahead by calling 01721 760254.

ENDS

For further information, interviews or images, please contact Shauna Hay on 0131 248 2900/07824529028 or Charlotte McDonald on 0131 248 2925

Editor’s Notes

Dawyck Botanic Garden, Stobo, near Peebles, in the Scottish Borders, is part of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). It was the first Garden in the country to be recognised by VisitScotland of 5-star status and is the first carbon-neutral Garden in the UK It is open to the public daily from February 1 to November 30.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a leading international research organisation delivering knowledge, education and plant conservation action around the world. In Scotland its four Gardens at Edinburgh, Benmore, Dawyck and Logan attract nearly a million visitors each year. It operates as a Non Departmental Public Body established under the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, principally funded by the Scottish Government. It is also a registered charity, managed by a Board of Trustees appointed by Ministers. Its mission is “To explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future.” Learn more: www.rbge.org.uk