Regular visitors to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh will have noticed that work has begun to build a new visitor facility, The Gateway, at the West Gate on the former site of the Botanics Shop. In August, the Shop was relocated to the East Gate, the West Gate closed and the main entrance to the Garden opened at the North Gate on Inverleith Place.
Now the area has been cleared and an access road built to accommodate large vehicles, work has commenced on the main construction programme. The necessary testing has been completed for the foundations, the site has been mapped out and surveys of the existing drainage system have begun. Trees adjacent to the former visitor gatehouse have now been removed by an RBGE Horticultural team and tree protection has been finalised in that area.
The new visitor facility is due to open in spring 2009. It will offer visitors a unique opportunity to discover the world of plants, the Garden's scientific research and the biodiversity of Scotland.
'The Gateway' is simply a working title for the project. Members of the public are invited to enter their suggestions for a suitable name in our naming competition, which runs until 1 December.
For more information on The Gateway project and the naming competition, visit The Gateway page
Or download the Gateway information and naming competition leaflet.