Green light for Botanical Gardens revamp

A project to rejuvenate a popular tourist and event destination in Birmingham has been handed the green light.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston is planning to carry out a major overhaul of its glasshouses and has already received grant and lottery funding.

The 15-acre site has four Victorian glasshouses which will be restored to reflect their original form and adapted to serve contemporary horticultural needs.

Other planned work includes a low-carbon, sympathetic reinterpretation of the existing gardens and structure and will deliver a long-term sustainable future for the attraction. The project is called 'Growing our Green Heritage'.

The grade-II* listed venue is home to more than 10,000 botanic species but is also a popular choice for events. It opened in 1832 and welcomes around 220,000 visitors and 19,000 school children every year.

Chief executive Sa