# Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

> Botanical garden in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

**Wikidata**: [Q1807521](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1807521)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Botanic_Garden_Edinburgh)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/royal-botanic-garden-edinburgh

## Summary

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a botanical garden [1][2] founded in 1670 [3]. Its headquarters are located in Edinburgh [4].

## Summary
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a botanical garden and scientific research institute located in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded in 1670, it operates as an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government. The organization manages a 32-hectare garden in Edinburgh and three regional satellite gardens, serving as a center for plant science, conservation, and education.

## Key Facts
- **Founded:** 1670
- **Location:** Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom (specifically Inverleith, City of Edinburgh)
- **Area:** 32 hectares (main garden)
- **Type:** Botanical garden, Research Institute, Executive Non-Departmental Public Body, and Nonprofit Organization
- **Parent Organization:** Scottish Government
- **Satellite Gardens:** Benmore Botanic Garden, Logan Botanic Garden, Dawyck Botanic Garden
- **Revenue (2024):** £38,639,000
- **Charity Number:** SC007983
- **Coordinates:** 55.96507, -3.2085295
- **Website:** https://www.rbge.org.uk

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh founded?
A: The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh was founded in 1670.

### Q: What other gardens are part of the RBGE?
A: In addition to the main site in Edinburgh, the organization manages three subsidiary gardens: Benmore Botanic Garden, Logan Botanic Garden, and Dawyck Botanic Garden.

### Q: Is the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh a government body?
A: Yes, it is an executive non-departmental public body that is part of the Scottish Government.

### Q: How large is the main garden in Edinburgh?
A: The main botanical garden in Edinburgh covers an area of 32 hectares.

## Why It Matters
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a significant institution in the field of plant science and conservation, combining historical heritage with modern research capabilities. As a research institute and herbarium, it contributes to global biodiversity knowledge and taxonomic standards, holding membership in the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities and Biodiversity Information Standards.

Its status as an executive non-departmental public body underscores its national importance to the Scottish Government and the UK heritage sector. The garden plays a vital role in public education and engagement, evidenced by its substantial social media following and status as a major cultural landmark in Edinburgh. Furthermore, its financial growth, with revenues rising from approximately £19.4 million in 2020 to over £38.6 million in 2024, highlights its expanding operational capacity and impact.

## Notable For
- **Historic Legacy:** Founded in 1670, making it one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world.
- **Scientific Authority:** Functions as a major research institute and herbarium, setting standards in biodiversity information.
- **National Status:** Classified as an executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government.
- **Geographic Network:** Operates a main 32-hectare site in Edinburgh along with three distinct regional botanical gardens (Benmore, Logan, and Dawyck).
- **Heritage Designation:** The main garden is recognized as an Inventory Garden and Designed Landscape (GDL00334).

## Body

### Overview and Mission
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a multifaceted organization operating as a botanical garden, a research institute, and an educational institution. Located in the Inverleith area of Edinburgh, Scotland, it sits within the historic county of Midlothian. The institution is formally classified as an executive non-departmental public body and a nonprofit organization, operating under the auspices of the Scottish Government.

### History and Heritage
The institution was established in **1670**. The main garden site holds the heritage designation of **Inventory Garden and Designed Landscape** (ID: GDL00334), a status it has held since July 1, 1987. It is recognized by Historic Environment Scotland.

### Sites and Geography
The primary location is a **32-hectare** site in Edinburgh. The coordinates for the main garden are **55.96507, -3.2085295**. Beyond the Edinburgh site, the RBGE manages three subsidiary locations:
*   **Benmore Botanic Garden**
*   **Logan Botanic Garden**
*   **Dawyck Botanic Garden**

The organization also houses specific internal facilities and collections, including the **Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Archives** and the **Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Herbarium**.

### Financials and Operations
The organization has demonstrated significant financial activity in recent years, with revenue and donations tracked in pounds sterling.
*   **Revenue:**
    *   2020: £19,441,000
    *   2021: £19,186,000
    *   2022: £27,396,000
    *   2023: £30,525,000
    *   2024: £38,639,000
*   **Donations:**
    *   2020: £2,638,000
    *   2024: £4,314,000

### Research and Affiliations
RBGE is an active member of the global scientific community. It holds memberships with:
*   **Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF)**
*   **Biodiversity Information Standards**
*   **Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries**
*   **Publishing Scotland**

It is also identified as an academic publisher and operates an archive.

### Key People
Several significant individuals are associated with the institution's history and collections:
*   **George Forrest**
*   **Isaac Bayley Balfour**
*   **Christian Ramsay**
*   **Isobel Wylie Hutchison**
*   **Nathaniel Wolff Wallich**

### Identifiers and Digital Presence
The organization maintains a verified digital presence across various platforms.
*   **Social Media:** Twitter (@TheBotanics), Instagram (rbgedinburgh), Facebook (thebotanics), and YouTube (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh).
*   **Academic/Authority IDs:**
    *   **ISNI:** 0000000405982103
    *   **ROR ID:** 0349vqz63
    *   **GRID ID:** grid.426106.7
    *   **VIAF ID:** 131977580
    *   **Scottish Charity Number:** SC007983

## References

1. [Source](https://vocaleyes.co.uk/research/heritage-access-2022/benchmark/)
2. [Source](http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/GDL00334)
3. Scottish Charity Regulator
4. [Executive non-departmental public bodies. 2025](https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-public-bodies-directory/pages/executive-non-departmental-public-bodies/)
5. Historic Environment Scotland ID
6. GRID Release 2017-01-10
7. Japan Search
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. CiNii Research
10. [Source](https://cetaf.org/members/cetaf-members)
11. [Source](https://www.tdwg.org/about/membership/)
12. [Source](https://www.scurl.ac.uk/about-members)
13. [Source](https://www.publishingscotland.org/our-members/publisher-member-directory/)
14. [Source](https://www.rbge.org.uk/about-us/our-history/)
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. [Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL7181697A/Royal_Botanic_Garden_Edinburgh)
17. GRID Release 2015-12-14
18. GRID Release 2016-12-06
19. [FindThatCharity.uk](https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/XI-ROR-0349vqz63)
20. [Source](http://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/herbarium-details/?irn=125811)
21. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
22. [Source](https://www.govdirectory.org/united-kingdom/scotland/)
23. [Source](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/how-to-participate/org-details/998248244)
24. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
25. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
26. YouTube API