Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens

Guest lecture: Discovering mammals in the time of dinosaurs with Dr Elsa Panciroli
2026-02-12 19:00 - 20:30 UTC | Kelvin Hall, 1445 Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8AW, Glasgow, G3 8AW
Join us on Thursday, 12 February at 7pm in Kelvin Hall for a guest lecture, Discovering mammals in the time of dinosaurs by Dr Elsa Panciroli.
Mammals, the furry, milk-giving group to which humans also belong, can trace their origins back to the Mesozoic. Fossils, from the Isle of Skye in Scotland in particular, are providing new insights, revealing how their evolution alongside the dinosaurs set the foundations of their survival and success after the mass extinction 66 million years ago. In this talk, we will find out about fieldwork in Skye uncovering exceptionally preserved fossils, and the new analytical techniques revealing how mammals lived, grew, and flourished in the Jurassic.
Dr Elsa Panciroli is a palaeobiologist from the Scottish Highlands who completed her undergraduate degree in Environmental Science at the University of the Highlands and Islands, her Masters in Palaeobiology at the University of Bristol, and her PhD joint between the University of Edinburgh and National Museums Scotland.

Guest lecture: The Pines they are A-Changing with Rob Wilson
2026-02-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Kelvin Hall, 1445 Argyle St, Glasgow G3 8AW, Glasgow, G3 8AW
Join us at Kelvin Hall at 7pm on Thursday, 19 February 2026 for a guest lecture “The Pines they are a-changing” by Professor Rob Wilson of University of St Andrews.
Prof Wilson says:
“I am a tree-ring scientist – a so-called Dendrochronologist. My main research focusses on late Holocene palaeoclimatology (the Common Era) with specific emphasis on the use of tree-ring archives to understand the drivers of climate and environmental change. ”

Orchid Tour (member event)
2026-03-11 10:30 - 11:30
Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens will be joined by Glasgow’s orchid propagator Christine Nicolson for an exclusive tour of the Orchid House on Wednesday, 11 March 2026 at 10.30am.

Members can register by reply to the email invitation. For more information, please email the Committee.

Wildlife Walk (member event)
2026-03-14 09:00 - 10:00
Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens will be guided by Countryside Ranger Alexandra Jackson for an exclusive walk along the River Kelvin focussed on birdsong and early spring wildlife on Saturday, 14 March 2026 at 9am.

Spaces are limited and members can register by email to tours[at]glasgowbotanicgardens.com.

We will meet at the Kibble Palace at 9am. Please dress for cold and wet weather and be aware that paths and steps will be steep as well as slippery.

After the walk, the Botanics Tearoom will be open for hot drinks and snacks and there is also a public tour of Kibble Palace starting at 11am.

Kelvin at the Kibble
2026-04-07 10:00 - 2026-04-20 18:00 | Kibble Palace, Glasgow Botanic Gardens , Select a Country:
Find out how you can get involved with local groups in Glasgow to help protect the River Kelvin!

Orchid Fair 2026
2026-05-09 10:00 - 2026-05-10 17:00 | Kibble Palace, Glasgow Botanic Gardens , Select a Country:
Scotland’s only annual orchid show and fair returns for it’s 27th year to the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May, promising a botanical feast for the senses and a unique opportunity to buy unusual orchids and other tropical plants to grow at home. Held with the support of Glasgow City Council, there will also be displays of flowering tropical orchids by regional UK orchid societies.

Bonsai Open Exhibition (Troon)
2026-05-10 11:00 - 16:00 | Troon Town Hall and Walker Hall, Municipal Buildings, South Beach, Troon, KA10 6EF, United Kingdom
The Ayrshire Bonsai Club presents Bonsai Open Exhibition: A presentation of the art of bonsai featuring a display of traditional Japanese arts and crafts. This event will take place at Troon Town Hall.

Entrance fees

£2.50 for General Admission

£1.50 for Seniors

Free for Juniors
