Even at the climax of summer, gardeners are planning ahead for the change of season. As previously intimated, our forthcoming AGM is on Monday the 7th September in the Kibble. By that date I will have been Chair for three years and in the six months before that I was heavily involved with setting up the garden guiding group along with Jane Butterworth. It is time, for several reasons, to demit office. I do wish to continue garden guiding and be active, to an extent, with the Friends of GBG.

In summary, we are looking for a new Chair as well as, at least, one Trustee. In my time as Chair, we have never enjoyed a full compliment of trustees. This further
highlights the hard work and dedication of our existing trustees. Please consider the aforementioned opportunities. Please contact me at chair[at]glasgowbotanicgardens.com – if you have questions or want further information.

In a major upgrade of IT, the Gardens are moving the collections database from the current software to a more powerful and up to date programme called Iris BG
(Botanical Collection Management). This will allow our staff to liaise more easily with other BGs allowing greater access to inventories, labelling and seed swaps.

We are very grateful to the MacIntyre Begonia Trust who support our national collection of Begonias for their generous funding of this important new software programme.

The trustees have been active in supporting Friends of Queens Park with respect to GCC’s decision to close their glasshouse. Elsewhere in this newsletter can be seen a letter of support sent to Friends of QP.

We encourage our members to use this as a resource to support opposing the closure. Since we sent our letter there is talk of reconsideration of the decision but
there remains a long road ahead.

On a larger, but more distant scale, we are extremely concerned about the University of Dundee‘s plans to consider closing their unique botanical garden. We will be
writing in coming days a letter to support the continuation of the gardens. Members can sign an online petition immediately.

Back at home, much has been happening. Our stand at Glasgow Science Festival was very well attended on both weekends. The trustees are very grateful for the help and
assistance given by several members. As well as providing fun and education to children of all ages, we were able to meet many local families and talk about membership and our work.

I am pleased to report that the restoration of the Flint Mill is now finished and the building is in a more stable state. As often happens, the work revealed further work on adjacent sites that will require restoration in the future.

A memorial tree and plaque in memory of Stanley Baxter has now been planted near the CPH beds. Stanley loved the Gardens and his wish was that his estate planted a
tree in his memory. A fine Sorbus acuparia (native rowan) was chosen.

Finishing on a bright note, I am pleased to announce the return, after an absence, of music in the Kibble on Saturday 11th July. Our trustee and garden guide John
Guerrier is an accomplished accordion player and retired professional musician. John will be playing a medley at 1pm and again at 2pm.