Bookings and Information
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Schools Programme at the Edinburgh Garden
Our schools’ offer is open for bookings for summer term!
More details and the booking form are available below.
If you have any enquiries before booking, please contact us at schools@rbge.org.uk
Join the schools mailing list and receive updates about our exciting new offer for 24-25 academic year.
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Schools at the Botanics
- What programmes are available?
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Programme for term 3
Mon 29th April - Wed 26th June
Teddy Bears' Trail is available from Monday 29th April
All programmes are 90 minutes
Programmes for P1-3 classes
Our Senses, Our Stories (P1-3)
Take an amazing sensory journey through the natural world and explore your environment in surprising and unexpected ways. You will be guided on a tour of your senses through the garden, as you learn about how we can use them to help tell stories about ourselves and the world around us.
Teddy Bears’ Trail (P1-3)
(formerly Teddy Bears’ Picnic)
Edward Bear invites your pupils and their teddies on a magical sensory adventure, to learn about the wonders of nature and discover how living things obtain the necessities of life. We will explore the garden and we will think about how we can help look after the environment.
Programmes for P4-7 classes
Wild Words - the Poetry of Plants (P4-7)
Inspired by the bestselling book ‘The Lost Words’ by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris, this programme helps to hone your observation skills and train your senses as you explore the gardens. We will build up a collection of ‘wonder words’ to describe what we see, feel, hear, smell and touch, and create a ‘word-hoard’ which can be used back at school to conjure up your own poems that capture the essence of your experience to share with others.
Life of Plants (P4-7)
Introducing you to the work of the Botanic Garden and what it takes to be a plant scientist. Explore the parts of a flower and what they do. Investigate the lifecycles of plants and recognise the different stages of their development throughout the seasons.
- What does a visit include?
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Booking a facilitated visit includes a 1.5hr workshop with a member of our learning team. We have also developed online materials to help you continue learning in school.
If you are planning to spend the whole day in the Garden, try one of our additional self-led activities available alongside a few of our programmes from the Teacher Patch.
- When can we visit?
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Dates: 29th Apr - 26th Jun 2024
You can book a half-day in the morning or in the afternoon. We are only able to work with one class at a time, if you wish to book two you can book one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Workshop Running Times:
AM: 10:30am – 12:00pm
PM: 12:30pm – 2:00pmOur 2024-2025 academic year programme will be announced in May 2024.
- How much does a visit cost?
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£5 per child per workshop
£120 minimum charge per group, per workshop
You will be charged after the visit only for the number of children who attend (unless below the minimum fee). There is no charge for adult helpers. For payments via an invoice thought the Council please include your Purchase Order number in the booking request form.
Funding is available to support your visit - with thanks to the John Horseman Trust for their generous support
We have limited funding available in 2024 for schools that find it hard to access trips. This can support you with workshop and/or transport costs. Schools can request this at the time of booking.
- How many children can I bring?
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Max group size: 35 children
- How do I book?
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To book, please complete our Booking Request Form
- Risk assessment for school visits
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You can find a copy of RBGE's School Risk Assessment here.
- Lunch space
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Unfortunately, we are unable to provide an indoor lunch space for groups at the moment.
If you would like to stay for lunch, we have a few lawns which are suitable. Please ask the staff for directions.
Another option for a picnic for a big group is Inverleith Park which is directly across the road from the John Hope Gateway, where the workshops run. It has a play park and grassy area for ball games.
- Cancellation
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If you have to cancel for any reason, please contact us via schools@rbge.org.uk at the earliest opportunity to discuss.
In the event of high winds forecast (38mph and upwards), the Garden may close at short notice based on readings taken onsite by staff, Met Office data, and safety concerns. If weather warnings are issued in advance of your visit, we will aim to contact you the day before to decide whether the visit will be cancelled and will try to rebook. You are advised to telephone 0131 552 7171 before leaving school if in any doubt.
Where possible we will try to reschedule any cancelled visits for a future date.