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
In collaboration with NatureScot, we have developed a new online course that emphasises nature-positive practices for managing and maintaining amenity grasslands, including parks and greenspaces. In this course, you will learn how changes in management practices can promote flowering plants, support pollinators, and foster resilient ecosystems.
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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 of Nepal in Godavari. The course focused on 3 main points: biosecurity, record keeping, and the role of horticulture in conservation. There were 16 students in attendance including 3 students from the botanical survey of India based in Kolkata, and one student from Bhutan.
The six-day course involved the propagation of plant material, keeping records, and the maintenance of 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
Professional training
Academic programmes
Upcoming courses and events
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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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