Scottish songwriter Karine Polwart reveals new song inspired by reopening of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's Palm Houses
The new song has been written and performed to celebrate the long-awaited reopening of the Palm Houses
Scottish songwriter Karine Polwart has teamed up with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) to create a brand new song inspired by the garden ahead of the long-awaited reopening of the iconic Palm Houses.
Written and composed by the award-winning folk singer, the new song, titled ‘Māmāku’, has been performed by the Garden’s Botanics Choir under the iconic glass dome, led by RBGE community engagement manager and Botanics’ choirmaster Amy Leach.
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Polwart’s inspiration came from the black fern tree, known by the indigenous te reo Māori name Māmāku, growing at the centre of the Palm Houses replacing the much-loved Sabal mexicana.
The song focuses on the themes of repair, renewal, healing and resilience.
Karine Polwart, award-winning Scottish musician and writer, said: "The Palm Houses have inspired me before to tell the farewell story of the beloved old sabal palm that used to fill the glasshouse dome.
“I wanted this new song for the Botanics Choir to be warm and hopeful, and to celebrate the extraordinary resilience of plants and people and the sense of light and life that the Palm House reopening brings.”
The first performance of Māmāku took place during a special ‘Community Celebration Day’ which gave local groups - including Pilton Community Health Project, Headway East Lothian, Score Scotland Women’s Group, ELREC New Scots Group and ELREC Polish Group - the chance to explore the newly restored Palm Houses, which reopens to the public on Friday, October 2.
The five local community groups also previously took part in a number of creative sessions between March and August, which resulted in artworks being created to display during the Community Celebration Day.
Professor Julia Knights, regius keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, said: "The Palm Houses have always been places of wonder, discovery and connection, and it was wonderful to hear Karine inspiring local community groups through the celebration of our amazing palms, ferns and fronds - including our magnificent Black tree fern.
"At the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, our role goes far beyond science and horticulture. As well as being a global institution tackling biodiversity loss and climate change, we also deliver education and engagement programmes to inspire and engage learners. We work with over 120 community groups and welcome visitors from across the world; our Gardens are a place where everyone can come together, share experiences and be inspired.”
The closure of the Palm Houses seven years ago came as part of a wider £58.1 million Edinburgh Biomes restoration and development programme.
The Palm Houses restoration has included the replacement of all 5,750 panes of glass, 600m² of ironwork being fully restored or replaced and 500m² of sandstone repairs being carried out.
It was partly funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which contributed £4.8m to the project.
Caroline Clark, The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we have helped support the restoration of these magnificent 19th century Palm Houses, securing the future of the precious plant collection housed within them.
“This has been an extraordinary heritage project, but it’s also brought together people from communities across Edinburgh and beyond. It has given them the opportunity to share new experiences, develop their creative skills and helped shape how this special place will be understood and enjoyed for generations to come.”