Friday, November 12, 2004
Forth listeners can’t beat a great day out at the Garden
It’s official: for a great day out and a venue you’ll want to revisit again and again, you
can’t beat the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The fact that many had suspected
for years was confirmed during a glittering reception in Edinburgh’s Sheraton Grand
Hotel on Thursday, November 11, when Director of Horticulture, Dr David Rae picked
up the plaque for the Radio Forth Favourite Visitor Attraction of the year.
After months of voting and having received several thousand nominations, the
judging panel at Central Scotland’s leading commercial radio station – in conjunction
with sponsors, Black Horse Finance - agreed that the year-round attraction, just a
mile from the city centre, was a winner for visitors of all ages.
Stepping up to collect the award before an audience which included the cream of the
UK music industry, as well as community, business and sporting heroes, David Rae
expressed his delight on behalf of the Garden: “While the prime reason for the Royal
Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s existence is as a scientific institution, we are
nonetheless delighted to be regarded as a popular visitor attraction,” he commented.
“In pursuing our commitment to research, conservation and education, it is a
tremendous bonus also to provide a facility which is appreciated by all quarters of the
community.”
ENDS
Editor’s Notes
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific research institution with a worldwide reputation for its expertise in the study of plants and their diversity. As well as
four Regional Gardens – at Benmore, Argyll; Dawyck, Peeblesshire and Logan,
Galloway - it operates numerous field stations around the world and has specialists
working in more than 40 countries.
For more information, please call press officer Shauna Hay on 0131 248 2900 or
communications assistant Ellie Cooper on 0131 248 2991.
The full list of Radio Forth winners was:
Forth One Favourite Newcomer Award, in association with Orange: McFly
Forth One Best Place to Work Award, in association with the Edinburgh Evening
News: John Lewis
Forth One Fringe Award, in association with The List: Jason Byrne
Black Horse Community Challenge: Friends of Midlothian’s Children
Forth One Best Teacher Award, in association with John Lewis: Douglas Mitchell,
Trinity Academy, Edinburgh.
FORTH2 Music Recognition Award, in association with ChooseAnotherWay.com :
Wet Wet Wet
FORTH2 Best Performance Award, in association with Hard Rock Café: Tony
Hadley.
FORTH2 Contribution to Sport Award, in association with Westwoods Health Club at
Fettes: Chris Hoy
FORTH2 Best Local Pub or Club Award, in association with Central Taxis:
Corstorphine Inn, Edinburgh.
FORTH2 Favourite Visitor Attraction, in association with Continental Airlines: Royal
Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Radio Forth Contribution to East Central Scotland Award in, association with
Lochinvar Windows: Peter Gorman, Forth Children’s Theatre Company.
Radio Forth Help a Child Appeal Award, in association with The Walk & the St James
Shopping Centre: Jean Munro, Dalkeith.
The Tom Wilson Music Award: Andrew Love, Penicuik