Benmore Botanic Garden just outside of Dunoon will be reopening to the public on 1 March after being closed over the winter.

Despite being closed to visitors for the last few months the Garden has remained a hive of activity as spring planting preparation is underway. Curator of the Benmore Garden Peter Baxter commented, "There has been much activity by the garden team over the winter months in connection with various project work and in preparation for the 2019 season." With young Aruacaria araucana (monkey puzzle) trees having been grown in the Edinburgh Garden nursery it is finally nearing time for them to move to their permanent home in Benmore, where they will join the diverse range of conifers the Garden already boasts.

It is not just planting preparation that the staff at Benmore have been busy with over the winter. There will be a new exhibition opening on 1 March and running until 23 June. The exhibition looks at the mysterious world of lichens, an organism that can be used to monitor air pollution levels.

On Wednesday 20 March RBGE’s, Dr Alan Elliott is hosting a talk titled “Wild about Meconopsis”. Alan will discuss the species in detail, talking about growth in the wild to the cultivation of them, then on to taxonomy and the history of the species.

Similarly, on 18 April at the Benmore Garden AGM there will be the chance to hear “Taxonomy, Teeth and the Titanic”. The talk is being conducted by Dr Peter Wilkie and will focus on the plant species Sapotaceae and its uses in everyday life.

Following on from last year’s success, school children from around the region are once again being offered an opportunity to explore what plants mean to the world through the annual Schools Week’s delivered by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s Education Team and made possible through the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

Benmore also offers regular chances for eager visitors to get involved. The motorized Explorer Tours every Wednesday and Thursday at 2pm, Courtyard Gallery and the Walking Tours held every Sunday and Tuesday also at 2pm, Courtyard Gallery allow visitors the chance to gain a greater understanding of the Garden.

As is in keeping with tradition at Benmore the annual open day, where the Garden has free entry is being held on Sunday the 19^th of May this year.

ENDS

For further information, interviews or images, please contact Clare Piggot on 0131 248 2925 or Shauna Hay on 0131 248 2900.