Christine Grahame branches out at Dawyck

The importance of Dawyck Botanic Garden as a key Scottish Borders visitor attraction, as well as a leader in environmental research and conservation, has been underscored by Christine Grahame MSP during a visit to the Garden, near Stobo, organised by the Scottish Parliament & Business Exchange (SPBE).

The guest of Dawyck Curator Graham Stewart, Ms Grahame spent a day at the Garden, during which she was briefed on its particular role within the four Gardens of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE).

After touring the new visitor centre – which helped boost visitor numbers and enable the Garden to achieve VisitScotland five star status in 2008 – the MSP demonstrated her own horticultural knowledge during a walk around the 60-acre site. To mark her visit she also planted a young Abies mariesii (Marie's Fir), grown from seed during a 2005 RBGE expedition to Japan . The collection was made as part of the organisation's International Conifer Conservation Programme. The tour was completed when Ms Grahame sampled further hands-on experience of work in the Garden when she helped take the strain of a lopped branch being lowered to the ground for safe disposal.

“Dawyck is a wonderful Garden, I will make return visits and I will encourage others to do likewise”, commented Ms Grahame at the end of her visit.

Graham Stewart added: “We had a very successful day here at Dawyck and I would like to thank Christine Grahame for her time and enthusiasm. She is very supportive of the work of the RBGE and is very keen to do all she can to help our organisation during these more difficult times.”

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