The Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) was founded in the 17th century as a physic garden, growing medicinal plants. This first Garden was in St Anne’s Yard, part of the Holyrood Palace grounds, and occupied an area the size of a tennis court.
RBGE now extends to four sites – Edinburgh, Benmore (near Dunoon in Argyll), Dawyck (near Peebles in the Borders) and Logan (near Stranraer in Galloway), and is the second richest collection of plant species in the world.
Since the 19th century it has received public funding, and it is now sponsored by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environmental Research and Analysis Directorate (RERAD). The Garden’s remit and mission is rooted in the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985.

RBGE is committed to lifelong learning and international capacity building. We provide a diverse range of formal and informal education programmes for people of all ages and at all levels… from primary school to PhD, amateur or professional.

The landscaped Gardens, botanical collections and expertise of RBGE staff offer one of the world’s best resources for learning about the natural world. Education is one of the Garden’s chief aims and runs through all its activities.

RBG Edinburgh is home to the distance and blended learning opportunities that are offered through PropaGate Learning.