 have shared that they are in the final phase of their Palm House restoration.){kind=link}
THE Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) have shared that they are in the final phase of their Palm House restoration, with scaffolding finally coming down.
The project has been aided by their Save the Palm Houses appeal, which is on its way to meeting its £250,000 target.
The Palm Houses were one of few structures not damaged by Storm Éowyn, which ravaged other parts of the gardens, including their tallest tree.
Restoration of the Palm Houses began in September 2022 as the 200-year-old structures had suffered crumbling stonework, rusting ironwork, and broken and ineffective glasswork.
RBGE posted to social media yesterday saying: “Palm Houses update: we’re now in the final phase of our Save the Palm Houses appeal.
“Can you help us reach our £250,000 target?
“Every donation will bring us closer to opening the doors. So far, the generosity of our supporters means we’re making great progress on the restoration works.
“The scaffolding is starting to come down, revealing the incredible craftsmanship of the restoration.
“We’re also happy to share that not a single pane of reinforced glass installed as part of this project was damaged by Storm Éowyn.
“In contrast, more than 150 panes of glass in our unrestored glasshouses were sadly shattered – demonstrating the urgent need for this work.
“Help us ensure the iconic buildings stay standing for another two centuries, donate to the appeal today https://rbge.cc/palmhouses”
Pictures show construction workers checking glass panes at the very top of the houses, with the structure devoid of its once-flourishing foliage.
Approximately 40,000 plants were moved from the glasshouses and placed elsewhere.
Donations will go towards protecting the collection, as 40% of plant species are at risk of extinction, as well as helping to tackle biodiversity loss.