News

Gardens Update

15/02/2021

The grounds have remained open throughout the COVID-19 lockdown and current times are from 7am until dusk (our gate times are 6.00pm as of 14/02/21 which means the main gate will close at 6pm, other gates will close from 5.45pm, the closing time  tracks dusk so by 22nd Feb  gate times are 6.30 and by April 1st gate times are 8pm)

The Gardens are delighted to be awarded the Keep Scotland Beautiful Green Flag for 2020  and are working to maintain these standards in 2021.

The Green Flag Award recognises the best parks, gardens and green spaces across Scotland. It is awarded to parks, gardens and green spaces who can demonstrate excellent management and environmental standards.

We have received many kind notes and comments from people who have used the Gardens during the lockdown and vistors say they appreciate the work carried out by staff to keep the Gardens clean, safe and well maintained. Thank you all, and we will pass all messages onto the appropriate teams.

During periods of snow areas we may temporarily fence off areas where plantings need to be protected. We only do this as a last resort and to protect young trees, plants and especially bulbs from damage. Restrictions will be lifted as soon as possible .

The Gardens, grounds and glasshouses are all free to visit. They are managed and maintained by Glasgow City Council.

Update
15/02/21. Due to Covid 19 restrictions

• The Kibble Palace is closed
• The Main Range is closed
• The Tea Room at the Botanics is closed
• Our volunteer programme is now suspended until Phase 4 of the Scottish Government’s Route Map  and our waiting list is now full.
• The RBGE Certificate of Practical Horticulture Course due to start at Glasgow in March 2021 has now been postponed to August 2021. More details can be found on the Education Page

• The public toilets are open and will remain open during Tier 4, but there are restrictions on operating times.
• The Kiosk will remain open for take away teas, coffees etc

Thank you

#staysafe

Update 06/01/2021

Due to the rapidly changing situation, please check this section for the most recent information.

Garden Update

06/01/2021

The grounds have remained open throughout the COVID-19 lockdown and current times are from 7 until dusk (our gate times are 5.00pm at the moment which means the main gate will close at 5pm, other gates will close from 4.45pm)

We have received many kind notes and comments from people who have used the Gardens during the lockdown and vistors say they appreciate the work carried out by staff to keep the Gardens clean, safe and well maintained. Thank you all, and we will pass all messages onto the appropriate teams.

The Gardens, grounds and glasshouses are all free to visit. They are managed and maintained by Glasgow City Council.

Update
06/01/21. Due to Covid 19 restrictions

• The Kibble Palace is closed
• The Main Range is closed
• The Tea Room at the Botanics is closed
• Our volunteer programme is now suspended until Phase 4 of the Scottish Government’s Route Map  and our waiting list is now full.

• The public toilets are open and will remain open during Tier 4, but there are restrictions on operating times.
• The Kiosk will remain open for take away teas, coffees etc

Thank you

Update 21/12/2020

Due to the rapidly changing situation, please check this section for the most recent information.

Garden Update

21/12/2020

The grounds have remained open throughout the COVID-19 lockdown and current times are from 7 until dusk (our gate times are 5.00pm at the moment which means the main gate will close at 5pm, other gates will close from 4.45pm)

We have received many kind notes and comments from people who have used the Gardens during the lockdown and vistors say they appreciate the work carried out by staff to keep the Gardens clean, safe and well maintained. Thank you all, and we will pass all messages onto the appropriate teams.

The Gardens, grounds and glasshouses are all free to visit. They are managed and maintained by Glasgow City Council.

Glasshouse Update
21/12/2020.

• The Kibble Palace is open from 12 noon until 16.00 until 26/12/2020
• The Main Range is open from 13.00 until 16.00 until 26/12/2020
  
• Due to the move to Tier 4 Coronavirus restrictions all Glasshouses will close on Saturday 26th December, the outside gardens will remain open.
  

Until then Pre booking is not required but there are one way systems in place.

You must wear a face coverings and respect social distancing guidelines.(exemption cards accepted)

• The public toilets are open and will remain open during Tier 4, but there are restrictions on operating times.
• The Tea Room at the Botanics have closed until Spring 2021. The Tea Room staff would like to thank all their loyal customers for the many kind comments of support.We will update this section when future operating hours are arranged.
• Our volunteer programme is now suspended until Phase 4 of the Scottish Government’s Route Map  and our waiting list is now full.

So there we are.

All the team at the Botanic Gardens wish you a Merry Christmas, stay safe and our very best wishes for a better 2021.

Update 18/11/2020

Due to the rapidly changing situation, please check this section for the most recent information.

The grounds have remained open throughout the COVID-19 lockdown and current times are from 7 until dusk (our gate times are 4.30 at the moment which is slightly earlier due to work being carried out to remove the GlasGLOW lightshow)

We have received many kind notes and comments from people who have used the Gardens during the lockdown and vistors say they appreciate the work carried out by staff to keep the Gardens clean, safe and well maintained. Thank you all, and we will pass all messages onto the appropriate teams.

The Gardens, grounds and glasshouses are all free to visit. They are managed and maintained by Glasgow City Council.

UPDATE
To enable visitors to engage with the glasshouse collections the display glasshouses.

• The Kibble Palace is open from 12 noon until 16.00
• The Main Range is open from 13.00 until 16.00
  
• Due to the move to Tier 4 Coronavirus restrictions the Glasshouses will close on Friday 20th November and not reopen until December 12th 2020
  

Until then Pre booking is not required but there are one way systems in place.

You must wear a face coverings and respect social distancing guidelines.(exemption cards accepted)

• The public toilets are open and will remain open during Tier 4, but there are restrictions on operating times.
• The Tea Room at the Botanics reopened on the 16th September and are currently open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Operating hours are 11am till 4pm for the tea rooms.
• Due to the move to Tier 4 Coronavirus restrictions the Tearooms will close on Friday 20th November at 4pm. The Tea Room staff would like to thank all their loyal customers for the many kind comments of support. We will update this section when future operating hours are arranged.
  
• Our volunteer programme is still suspended until Phase 4 of the Scottish Government’s Route Map  and our waiting list is now full

Thank you and stay safe.

Just like this Small Tortoiseshell butterfly perched on the carniverous Sarracenia plant its sometimes best to do things carefully.

Although the outside area of Glasgow Botanic Gardens has remained open throughout the COVID-19 control period, as of 10/07/2020 the Glasshouses, Kibble Palace Tea Room and Public Toilets at Glasgow Botanic Gardens remain closed.

Preparations are being made for the reopening of the indoor facilities but this will be very carefully managed and we hope to bring you updates when we receive them from Glasgow City Council.

Volunteering is still suspended, though plans are being made to allow volunteers to return. They will have to book slots and we will be unable to supervise as many volunteers as we did in the past but we hope to get things moving as soon as possible.

The grounds of Glasgow Botanic Gardens are open from 7 am to 9 pm every day.

You can do your bit to help Glasgow Botanic Gardens by disposing of rubbish in the bins provided and, where possible and safe, taking litter home. When visiting Glasgow Botanic Gardens please remember that the bye laws against the consumption of alcohol or posession of an open container of alcohol apply here, as well as the other parks across the city.

Above all, follow the current advice from the Scottish Governement and #StaySafe.

Monday 4th May 2020

The Gardens remain open for exercise for local residents although the Glasshouses, Kibble Palace and Tea Rooms are shut.

Although getting fresh air and exercise at this time is recommended please remember to practice social distancing to protect others and yourself.

Events including wedding bookings are now cancelled until further notice, please contact 0141 276 1614 if you have an enquiry relating to bookings.

The numerous important plant collections at Glasgow Botanic Gardens including our National Collections of Begonias, Dendrobiums and Tree Ferns are being maintained.

Volunteering is cancelled until a review is carried out into safe working practices including social distancing. We are not accepting any new volunteer applications at present and a waiting list is currently in operation for existing applications. Updates for new volunteers will be posted here and existing volunteers will be contacted directly.

Glasgow City Council will review the situation at Glasgow Botanic Gardens in line with Scottish Government advice.

We wish you all the very best at the moment, one day this will be over and we will open fully again,

GBG

Wednesday 18 March 2020 at 09:30 hours

Glasgow Botanic Glasshouses and Tea Room at the Botanics are now closed.

In line with the government’s advice on reducing social contact, Glasgow City Council Neighbourhood and Sustainability Service has taken the difficult decision to close the Glasshouses this morning. This is in line with ALEO Glasgow Life venues across the city, which now are also shut.

This closure will also help us maintain safe social distancing measures for the public and our staff who have to maintain the valuable plant collections.

We expect the closure to continue until at least the end of April.(update posted 18/03/20)

Please Note that volunteering at Glasgow Botanic Gardens is suspended while Government advice on social distancing is in force (updated posted 17/03/20)

Events at Glasgow Botanic Gardens organised by Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens (update 13/03/2020)

Due to the dynamic situation regarding public health in the UK the Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens have reluctantly taken the following decisions.

The Certificate of Practical Horticulture for Spring 2020 has been postponed. This course was due to commence on Saturday March 14^th. If you were signed up to this course the course co-ordinator will be in touch with you by email regarding re-arrangement or re-imbursement. Please read the separate statement posted by the Friends on the CPH Page

The Award Ceremony for students from the Summer 2019 Course on the 28th March is cancelled and we will post out certificates and awards.

The Kibble Lecture on April 23rd which was due to be given by Martin Gardner on the subject of the Conifer Conservation Project is also postponed.

This website will be kept up to date re-the changes to the Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens programme.

Glasgow Botanic Gardens is operated by Glasgow City Council and these cancellations refer to events organised by the Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens, other events running at Glasgow Botanic Gardens are organised by different providers and you may have to refer to them for the latest information.

The Gardens are just waking up but the Friends have been active over the winter and in particular supporting the Friends of Glasgow Parks Forum. The Forum has been leading the “Participatory Budgeting” process with the City Council – this sounds complicated but can be summarised by saying there is £90,000 available for new projects funded by Wee Green Grants. Applications have closed and the Friends have applied for £4500 (max per application is £5000) for “Teaching the Teachers” – essentially a scaled down version of our Certificate in Practical Horticulture.

We teach the teachers and then they will take the knowledge back to the classroom.

We aim to have 10 one day courses for teachers/classroom assistants from Glasgow schools and it will be provided as a partnership between the Friends, Botanic Gardens staff and the Royal Horticultural Society (which is already engaged with Glasgow schools.) The courses will be offered free to participating schools.

The next stage is for the public to vote on their preferred projects (there are about 28 projects) each voter can vote for three projects. It is very much a pilot project but nevertheless real funding is available. 

If you would like to see the projects submitted go to

https://weegg.communitychoices.scot/

There are many worthwhile projects but we hope you would like to vote for the Friends project, you have to register but it will be worthwhile if we are successful.

Best wishes

The Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens

Printing in Woodlands Exhibition
Glasgow Botanical Gardens Kibble Palace South Wing 29th Feb/1st March
10 to 4pm
An exhibition of Eco Printing Community art and Workshops in Eco techniques by Elisabeth Viguie Culshaw
FREE OF CHARGE
29th FEB drop in workshops in Indigo dye tie dye, Cyanotype, Bookbinding, no booking needed.

Happy New Year to all visitors and Friends of Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
We will hopefully bring you lots of exciting events and highlight interesting additions to the collections over the next couple of months.

One interesting point to make is that 2020 marks the 200th anniversary of the arrival of renown plant collector David Douglas to Glasgow Botanic Gardens.

The picture above shows a sketch of the young David Douglas and is reproduced by kind permission from Dr Henry Noltie, RBGE

Douglas moved to Glasgow from his foreman position at Valleyfield House, Fife in the employment of Sir Robert Preston.
During his time working at the Botanic Gardens he attended botanical lectures at the University of Glasgow given by W.J. Hooker. Hooker noted Douglas as a man worthy of his support, and would eventually introduce him to Joseph Sabine, the Honorary Secretary of the Horticultural Society.(Forerunner of the Royal Horticultural Society)
When David Douglas left Glasgow Botanic Gardens as Head Gardener in 1823 he travelled to London where the Horticultural Society had just started sending plant collectors to Africa, China and India. David Douglas was pencilled in for collecting trips to China but given the unstable Chinese political situation he was sent instead to North America. It was in North America he came across the plants that would be eventually associated with one of Scotland most intrepid plant hunters.

In the arboretum at Glasgow Botanic Gardens you can see Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Broad Leaved Maple, Tassel Bush, Western Yellow Pine and Sitka Spruce which are among the most planted of Douglas’s introductions. The trees in Glasgow date from the establishment of the arboretum in 1979 but other sites such as Dawyck Botanic Garden near Peebles in the Scottish Borders and Curraghmore in County Wexford, Ireland still have trees grown from seed collected by Douglas.
In Scotland, good sites for looking at mature trees with Douglas associations include Benmore and Dawyck Regional Gardens of RBGE, Diana’s Grove, Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Reelig Glen, Inverness, Drumlanrig Castle Dumfrieshire and Ardkinglas Castle, Argyll.

We will be putting up our Index Seminum Seed Exchange List on the 18rd November 2019.
Please click on this link

The form will be available for completion online only this year and we hope to have orders processed by early 2020.

The exchange is open only to those with an IPEN registration

GBG