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Edinburgh & Lothians Group

If you're residing in or visiting Edinburgh and the Lothians, we warmly invite you to join us at one of our events. You'll be made most welcome whether an alpine plant specialist, a seasoned gardener or just someone with a casual interest in plants.

For any inquiries, feel free to contact Frazer Henderson, our convenor, at 01501 762972 or via email at .

Our in-person meetings take place in the Conference Room at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, located at 20a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh EH3 5LR. Be sure to check the calendar below for specific details. In addition to these meetings, we also host Zoom sessions, garden visits, an annual day-long conference each November, and two Club shows in Edinburgh and Livingston.

Details of the current events programme are here:

DateTimeTypeOrganiserDetailsNotes
January
Tue 14-Jan-257.30 pmGMTTalk(O)EdinburghA Zoom meeting for the dark winter night
February
Tue 11-Feb-257.30 pmGMTMeetEdinburghThe magic behind plant propagation - Richard Moore
March
Tue 11-Mar-257.30 pmGMTMeetEdinburghThe Bernese Oberland - Jim Jermyn
April
Sat 5-Apr-2510.30amBSTShowEdinburghEdinburgh & the Lothians show. Note NEW VENUE
Tue 8-Apr-257.30 pmBSTMeetEdinburghKyrgyzstan 2024 - Aaron Marshall
August
Sat 16-Aug-254pmBSTMeetEdinburghSaughton Gardens: guided tour
Future
2025 Events
Tue 14-Oct-257.30 pmBSTMeetEdinburghKarakol: Przewalski, paths and plants - Frazer Henderson
Sat 8-Nov-259.30 amGMTMeetEdinburghThe Future for Plants: Focus on Conservation Horticulture - Conference with tour of RBGESee side panel on Edinburgh page for details
Future
2026 Events
Tue 10-Mar-267.30 pmGMTMeetEdinburghThe Japanese Garden at Cowden - Nicola Dibley; plus AGM

Autumn & winter 2025-6: Celebrating Scotland's rock gardeners and gardens
Everyone is invited to enjoy a series of talks on Zoom to brighten the dark days. 
Details on how to join the online meeting will be available nearer to the date.

DateTimeTypeOrganiserDetailsNotes
Future
2025 Events
Thu 6-Nov-257.30pmGMTTalk(O)SRGCBranklyn Garden, past, present and future - Jim JermynZOOM
Thu 4-Dec-257.30pmGMTTalk(O)SRGCScotland's showiest alpines - looking at plants at our shows - Stan da PratoZOOM
Future
2026 Events
Thu 8-Jan-267.30pmGMTTalk(O)SRGCA life of plants, people and gardens (including Roscoeas!) - Colin CrosbieZOOM
Thu 5-Feb-267.30pmGMTTalk(O)SRGCNature - Gardener's tutor II - how observing plants in the wild can guide growing them at home - Ian YoungZOOM



The Future for Plants: Focus on Conservation Horticulture
Lectures and garden tours at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
9.30 am, Saturday, 8th November, 2025

All welcome. Free admission

Programme

9.30 am      Arrival, with coffee/tea available 

10 am         Welcome 

10.05 am Planting to assist recovery
                Erin O'Hare, Jennifer Baker, Pablo Bell Molina & Max Coleman
Erin O'Hare, Jennifer Baker and Pablo Bell Molina (RBGE) are responsible for the conservation horticulture of ten threatened plants being assisted through the Scottish Plant Recovery programme. Max Coleman (RBGE) is helping to share stories of the recovery work and has an interest in ‘wilding’ as a way to conserve plants.

11.15 am     Comfort Break

11.25 am Renewing historic rock gardens
                    David Rankin
Rocky displays of alpine plants at shows for Kevock Garden Plants led to requests for help with rock gardens. David and Stella Rankin, and others from the Kevock team, have been delighted to have these experiences. Not just rock gardens, and not just historic. But always challenging, and always rewarding. The work involves compromises, with the rock originally used or available now, with the plants desired or available, with the intended use of the gardens - and with the owners, and the depths of their pockets! David is a former President of the SRGC.

12.30 pm Guided Tour of the Rock Garden 
                    John Mitchell and Scott Cook
John Mitchell, Supervisor of the Alpine department and the Rock Garden, has travelled extensively to various alpine regions worldwide, sharing knowledge and seeking plants for the RBGE. He is a respected figure in the world of alpines, frequently leading plant tours, delivering engaging lectures, and serving as a judge at shows. Scott Cook, Senior Horticulturalist, oversees the daily care of alpine plants, manages the alpine houses and propagation unit, and produces stunning displays that highlight diverse and remarkable specimens from mountainous areas around the globe.

1.15 pm     time for lunch or further exploration of the RGBE.

2 pm      Where have all the primroses gone?
                  John Richards 
John Richards is Emeritus Professor of Botany at the University of Newcastle, where his research interests centre on the evolution and genetics of plant breeding systems. He is a well-known, acknowledged authority on the genera Primula and Taraxacum (dandelions!). John is a keen grower of alpines in his Hexham garden and has travelled the world to see plants in their native habitats. He is also a judge and exhibitor of alpine plants and was previously President of the AGS (2003-6).

3.15 pm     Review & Close

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