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Edinburgh's historic Palm Houses reopen after six-year restoration project
Overview
Edinburgh's historic Palm Houses at the Royal Botanic Garden have reopened to the public following a major six-year restoration project to repair leaky and rusty 19th-century buildings. The extensive renovation included replacing over 5,000 panes of glass, repairing ironwork, and renovating stonework. While the vast majority of the hundreds of temporarily relocated plants survived, a 200-year-old Sabal palm tree had to be cut down because it grew too tall, though a descendant has been planted in its place.
Key points
- Edinburgh's Palm Houses at the Royal Botanic Garden have reopened after being closed for six years for vital restoration work.
- The restoration involved replacing more than 5,000 panes of glass, repairing corroding ironwork, and renovating stonework.
- A partition wall between the two houses was knocked down to create a lighter, airier space showcasing the historic architecture.
- Hundreds of plants were temporarily moved during the shutdown, with the vast majority surviving and now thriving in the renovated space.
- The only major casualty of the project was a 200-year-old Sabal palm tree that grew too tall to be stored, though a seedling descendant is now growing in its place.