For immediate release

October 10 2007

Edinburgh botanists take expertise to Oman

Eminent botanists from Edinburgh are using their knowledge and expertise to create a new botanic garden more than four thousand miles away in the Arabian sultanate of Oman.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), renowned for its research and wealth of knowledge on the native flora of many parts of the world, and in particular Arabia, was the obvious place to seek help when the Sultan of Oman decided to create a botanic garden in his country.

The new garden in Muscat , covering 425 hectares, will be one of the largest in the world. The flora of Oman, of which there are around 1200 species, will be displayed as natural habitats, including those of both northern and southern Oman that will need to be grown in specially designed conservatories. Incorporating the Arabic culture of Oman, it will be a unique and extremely important tourism and conservation project for the Middle East.

Director of Horticulture at RBGE, Dr David Rae, commented: ”This is an extremely important and prestigious project and RBGE’s involvement reflects the Garden’s status as a centre of excellence on the Arabian flora. The extensive research RBGE has done in Arabia forms the bedrock of information on the native flora of Oman.

“We have been involved in developing a horticultural and botanical brief for the plans and we are now working on more detailed design with Madrid-based architects Alatec. It is anticipated we will be involved in the long term, given our strong links with the area and our commitment to the conservation of its flora.’’

Dr Rae explained that RBGE personnel had helped with the setting up of a nursery within a garden centre in Oman where plants are being grown in preparation for final planting within the Botanic Garden as and when needed.

The Garden will have many notable features including a replica of a fog desert within a large conservatory, a land train to transport visitors around the Garden, a hill village where crafts will be displayed, a field study centre and an exclusive boutique hotel. Work on the Garden is expected to start next year with completion earmarked for 2010.

Specialists from RBGE are providing botanical and horticultural and interpretation consultancy for the pioneering project. RBGE’s world expert on the flora of Arabia, Tony Miller, is very much as the forefront of the project as are his colleagues Sabina Knees who specialises in the flora of Arabia and SW Asia and researchers Dr Sophie Neale and Lisa Banfield. The Director of Horticulture Dr David Rae and the Head of Education, Leigh Morris are also heavily involved in the project. Other key figures include Dr Ian Edwards, Head of Interpretation and Exhibitions at RBGE and his colleagues Mhairi Gillies and Anna Skinner in conjunction with Navyblue 3D.

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For further information contact Sandra Donnelly on 0131 248 2925 or Shauna Hay on 0131 248 2900.

EDITOR’S NOTES

The most notable feature of Oman is its range of imposing mountains, but its varying landscape also includes deep fjords, mangrove lagoons and rocky coves. A wonder of nature is the fog desert in Dhofar. For three months each year a dense fog settles over an arid and barren desert and the moisture-laden air transforms it into a green and lush haven.

Oman, the second largest country in Arabia with an area of 300,000 square km, occupies the south eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. To the north it borders the Strait of Hormuz, and the east the coastline stretches 1700 km along the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea to the Yemeni border.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a Non Departmental Public Body established under the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, principally funded by the Scottish Executive. It is also a registered charity, managed by a Board of Trustees who are appointed by Ministers. Its mission is to “explore and explain the world of plants” and its primary functions are as a centre of scientific and horticultural excellence, keeper of the national collections and promoter of science in the public domain.

The four Gardens of RBGE - Edinburgh, Benmore, Dawyck and Logan - comprise the National Botanic Gardens of Scotland and are numbered among the most popular visitor attractions in Scotland, bringing together many inter-related cultural areas of activity.