The Botanics Response Fund was launched in November 2020 to help us adapt and respond effectively to the changing needs of the community throughout the pandemic, to connect with people, and to offer support for those who needed it most.

Thanks to the outstanding generosity of our supporters, this appeal raised over £61,000 (including Gift Aid). This sum has allowed us to continue existing activities with community groups and schools, plan and develop new activities, and has opened doors for exciting partnerships that will greatly improve the Garden's accessibility.      

With income raised in part by the Botanics Response Fund, we have been able to progress some exciting projects in three brand new areas of work. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our donors and we would like to thank them most sincerely for their support.

Accessible Tours 

British Sign Language (BSL) tours are now available at our Edinburgh Garden, allowing visitors to explore the changing seasons, diverse Living Collection and history of the Garden in an accessible format with tour guide John Hay. BSL tours of our regional Gardens will be available throughout the year, and we are also now in the process of developing live audio-described tours to support our visually impaired visitors. 

Click here to find out more about our BSL tours.

Heath and Wellbeing Activities 

We have developed a range of health and wellbeing activities to help local communities access the benefits of the Gardens and other local greenspaces. At our Engaging Gardens family drop-in sessions this year, we look forward to inviting community groups and families to join us at their local Garden for activities exploring mindfulness in nature, including multi-sensory plant adventures, scavenger hunts and botanical fortune tellers. 

To find out more about upcoming health and wellbeing events, visit our What’s On page.

Skills Share 

We are expanding our Skills Share programme to support local groups in developing green spaces and gardens in their own areas. This programme continues to grow, and we are working closely with communities to share skills and knowledge, including workshops on cooking with herbs and demonstrations on winter pruning. 

If you know anyone who would like our advice, please contact us on community@rbge.org.uk to find out more about the Skills Share programme.