Birmingham Botanical Gardens is issuing a rallying call for the public public to get behind its ambitious Growing Our Green Heritage restoration project, in the face of world events.
The project, which represents the biggest transformational change in the Gardens’ near 200-year history, will safeguard the Gardens and its amazing Global Living Collection of 30,000 plants, restore the stunning listed buildings and modernise visitor services to ensure this much-loved Birmingham landmark can thrive for generations to come.
As a small, independent charity, Birmingham Botanical Gardens receives no regular external funding and generates 100% of its annual income. While there is currently no immediate impact on the project and with work continuing as planned, final costs of the restoration will not be known until the new year. The Gardens is preparing for the possibility that the project budget could increase in response to wider economic pressures.
To date, the Gardens has raised £18.5 million towards the Growing Our Green Heritage project, with a significant £9.075 million awarded from The National Lottery Heritage Fund last year. Despite this, continued support from individuals, businesses and public and private donors will be essential to help secure the Gardens’ long-term future.
General public, businesses and organisations are being encouraged to support the Gardens and to consider taking up an annual Green Futures Membership, priced at £100 per adult, to help fund the capital project. The membership offers the same perks as a standard £60 adult membership, including unlimited entry throughout the year, free parking and gift shop discounts. The additional £40 goes directly towards the restoration work.
Sara Blair-Manning, Chief Executive at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, said: “The planned restoration project is essential to ensure the City’s Garden will stay accessible, thrive in the future, and remain at the heart of Birmingham’s natural, physical and cultural landscape for many generations to come. The successful delivery of this project will allow the Gardens to continue welcoming local and international visitors, secure and grow our award-winning learning programme and develop ongoing engagement with the city’s diverse communities.
“As with all such large-scale masterplans, budgets and timescales can change, and with the continuing significant world events and their impact on all materials and supplies, this may be the case with the Growing Our Green Heritage project. We will know what the final costs will be in the new year, and we hope that they will not significantly increase, but if our grocery baskets and household energy bills are anything to go by, then we could see them rise.
“We’re extremely grateful for all the support we receive from our members, visitors, supporters and the wider Birmingham community - it’s this continued generosity that helps us to protect and preserve the Gardens for future generations. We know how proud Brummies are of their city and how they always come together to support the places and projects that make Birmingham special, so we hope they will get behind the Growing Our Green Heritage project and help us secure the future of the Gardens for all.”
Currently there are no immediate impacts on the project, with several areas being finalised, including a new learning space, The Barn, which will provide new accommodation for the charity’s schools and community engagement programme. Work has also begun on installing a new Nursery glasshouse, which will provide a home for the incredible collection of global plants that are currently in the Gardens’ main glasshouses whilst these buildings are restored.
