Biodiversity Skills Centre
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's dedicated centre for professional training, academic programmes and capacity building
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Welcome to the Biodiversity Skills Centre
Our purpose is to help build a global capacity for biodiversity conservation utilising the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s collections and expertise.
We empower conservation practitioners through professional training, academic programmes, and capacity-building initiatives.
We envision a world where biodiversity benefits from the exchange of knowledge and skills. By providing leadership in training and education, we enhance the capabilities of conservation practitioners worldwide and create a global and connected learning community.
What is the Biodiversity Skills Centre?
| Time | Description |
| 00:29 | [Will Ritchie, Head of Biodiversity Education & Training] The Biodiversity Skills Centre is the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's dedicated Centre for Professional Training for academic programmes and capacity building. |
| 00:19 | [Greg Kenicer, Postgraduate Programmes Manager] The Skills Centre offers a wide range of subjects across plant, biodiversity, conservation, and lots of associated areas. So we'll be looking at botany. We'll be looking at nature based solutions. We'll be looking at horticulture and related subjects. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is one of the best places to study in the world. It's got dedicated, incredible collections, wonderful expert staff, and global connections, as well as over 350 years of experience. |
| 00:29 | [Jane Robertson, Learning Technology Manager] Well, at the Botanics, we have experience of delivering learning, whether it be onsite or online, and we all come together to deliver excellent programs in horticulture, botany, nature-based solutions, and conservation. Our vision is to create a global capacity for biodiversity conservation, create a network of practitioners around the world with the skills and technical knowledge that they need to help conserve plants. |
Nature-Positive Amenity Grasslands
Developed in collaboration with NatureScot, our new online course highlights nature-positive practices for managing and maintaining amenity grasslands, including parks and greenspaces. Learn how changes in management practices can promote flowering plants, support pollinators, and foster resilient ecosystems.
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Latest news
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Horticultural training with the Government of Bermuda and Bermuda Botanical Gardens
Nine students from the Government of Bermuda and Bermuda Botanical Gardens completed the Certificate in Practical Horticulture course on Monday, 2 March 2026, at Tulo Valley Plant Nursery, Hamilton. The course was delivered by Lucy Baines and Daniel Batie with a focus on horticultural practices and the maintenance of documented plant collections.
The course was supported by funding from Darwin Plus, a Biodiversity Challenge Fund provided by the UK Government and the Botanical Society of Bermuda. The aim of the training and partnership with Bermuda Botanical Gardens, is to increase the capacity for plant biodiversity conservation on the archipelago and help safeguard Bermuda diverse flora.
Image: The Certificate in Practical Horticulture cohort in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Training at the National Botanic Garden, Nepal - Professional Skills for Conservation Horticulture
In January 2026, Kate Hughes and Daniel Batie ran a training course in partnership with the National Botanic Garden, Nepal in Godavari. The course focused on three main points: biosecurity, record keeping, and the role of horticulture in conservation. There were 16 students in attendance, including three from the Botanical Survey of India in Kolkata and one from Bhutan.
The six-day course involved propagating plant material, keeping records, and maintaining living collections. The delivery of the course was made possible by members of the Department of Plant Resources and the fantastic nursery staff at the botanic garden.
Image: Kate Hughes and national botanic garden staff potting on cuttings of Taxus wallichiana
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Contact our team
If you have any questions about learning at the Botanics, please contact the Biodiversity Education and Training team on 0131 248 2937 or email biodiversityskills@rbge.org.uk
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