Inside the Restored Palm Houses at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

I was at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to photograph one of the first guided tours of the newly renovated Palm Houses. The group were among the first to see the results of this major restoration, part of the Garden's ambitious Edinburgh Biomes project. The A-listed Georgian and Victorian glasshouses had been closed since 2022 for a complete overhaul of their crumbling stonework, rusting ironwork and fragile glazing, and the transformation is stunning.

The tour included sketching, a chance to learn about the restoration process, and a look at how the two Palm Houses are being brought together as a single temperate space for the first time since 1871, with new pathways and over 600 botanical specimens being planted. It was a really special thing to witness, and you could feel the excitement from everyone in the group at seeing these beautiful buildings brought back to life.

I loved working with the team at the Botanics. Thanks for having me along for such a memorable day.