We are pleased to announce that four botanic gardens from across the UK have now been selected to participate in the second phase of the ‘Growing the Social Role of Botanic Gardens’ initiative: Bristol Zoo Gardens; Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh; University of Leicester Botanic Garden; and Westonbirt, the National Arboretum. The gardens represent a diverse cross-section in terms of location, scale and focus through which to develop the programme.

Through a series of workshops and one-to-one support, Botanic Garden Conservation International (BGCI) will work closely with the gardens over the next six months as they shape, implement and evaluate pilot projects working with new local communities and reconsider their role, responsibilities and mission in a world of pressing environmental change.

BGCI will also develop an online handbook that captures the learning, identifies innovation and best practice, and provides an accessible resource for botanic gardens wherever they are in the world to reflect on their influence and realise the potential of a more socially engaged role.

An evaluation of the pilot projects in the first phase of the initiative with key recommendations is available below.

Download the report, “Growing the Social Role: Partnerships in the Community”.