Storm-hit Botanics blown away by record visitors

THE Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is seeing the first shoots of recovery from January’s devastating storm damage, after revealing an increase in last year’s visitor figures.

The total number of visits for 2011 exceeded 790,000, representing an almost 12 per cent uplift on the previous year – and the highest total this century. It is the second consecutive increase in numbers since the opening of the John Hope Gateway visitor centre at the West Gate.

Regius Keeper Professor Stephen Blackmore said: “This is good news for us.”