This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
05/04/2006
The new 'Gateway@ visitor centre at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is to receive an additional £3 million grant from the Executive bringing the total to £5 million.
The project aims to provide a better means of understanding the world of plants and biodiversity through state-of-the-art interactive visitor facilities.
Deputy Environment Minister Rhona Brankin said:
"The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a major asset for Scotland - a popular visitor attraction and an internationally renowned scientific institution. I am delighted to announce further funding to their ambitious plans to transform their visitor facilities.
"The Gateway project should inspire visitors to get involved and to learn more about the natural world they live in. Sharing the Royal Botanical Garden's scientific collections will provide a valuable opportunity to educate visitors on the importance of protecting Scotland's biodiversity."
Together with a recent award of £3.2 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund the additional funding takes RBGE closer towards meeting its fund raising target of £15 million.
Sheena Wurthmann, member of the Heritage Lottery Fund Committee for Scotland, commented:
"We're very proud to be part of the vision to create a 'gateway' into of the most important botanical gardens in the world. From the eccentricities of explorers to the science behind weird and wonderful plants, this fascinating part of our history will be told in exciting new ways. Its lasting legacy will be a greater understanding of the importance of plants and the issues facing our environment."
RBGE Regius Keeper Professor Stephen Blackmore added:
"The growing goodwill already witnessed for the Gateway is heartening and today's announcement of both Heritage Lottery and Scottish Executive funding is a real boost. The race is now on to secure a further 4 million pounds from private sources to ensure our scheduled opening in 2009."
RBGE is a Non Departmental Public Body established under the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, principally funded by the Executive.
The four gardens of the RBGE (Edinburgh, Benmore, Dawyck and Logan) comprise the National Botanic Gardens of Scotland and are numbered amongst the most popular visitor attractions in Scotland bringing together many inter-related cultural areas of activity.