The future of St Andrews’ much-loved botanic garden is hanging in the balance amid a funding crisis.
Fife Council is unable to continue investing in the popular garden at current levels and St Andrews University, which owns the land, is unwilling to make up the shortfall.
With the lease due to expire next year, a bid has been launched to establish a charitable trust to ensure it remains open.
St Andrews Botanic Garden, established at Bassaguard in 1960, has been managed by the council since 1987 and costs £300,000 a year to run.
Although the council is proposing to halve the money it spends on the garden, it and the university have ruled out closure. The plight comes as a question mark remains over the future of town’s Craigtoun Country Park, which is also cash-strapped.
It has been suggested the park could be sold off to finance the garden but Councillor Robin Waterston, chairman of a garden working group, said consideration of such a move would be “way down the line.”
At a meeting of the working group, which includes representatives of the council, university, Friends of the Botanic Garden and Botanic Garden Education Trust, options were considered for the garden’s future management.
Afterwards, Mr Waterston said new management arrangements were essential for the future of the garden and that there was broad support for the creation of a charitable trust.
He said, “The garden is facing great challenges and we must make sure that the correct structure, and funding, is put in place from the outset. No decisions have yet been made and we will keep the community informed of all developments.”
The council’s head of leisure and cultural services Grant Ward added, “The garden is an important horticultural asset and has provided high quality educational and recreational opportunities to the local community and visitors to St Andrews for more than 50 years.
“Fife Council remains committed to supporting a new delivery model that will ensure a sustainable future for the garden.”
Environmental consultancy Natural Capital, which was commissioned to review the garden, recommended a “partnership model” of management, with funding from the council, university and a charitable, community or commercial organisation.
Its report says current operational arrangements are weak and that a lack of strategic direction and investment have caused stagnation in recent years.
The report also criticises limited public awareness of its existence. It suggests a cafe, more substantial plant sales outlet and greater use of the garden for events could provide extra income and that an attractive pedestrian gateway from the town centre could attract more visitors.
The launch of the new trust, it suggests, could be linked to the university’s 600th anniversary celebrations and its drive to create a £100 million legacy. Graduates, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, could even be asked to be patrons.
Although the report regards implementation of a new management structure before the lease expires as ambitious and finding new funding challenging, the turning point is being seen as an opportunity to breathe new life into the garden.
Friends of the Botanic Garden chairwoman Louise Roger said, “We welcome the university’s commitment to look at ways in which it can help fund the proposed trust and we will continue to work closely with them to find a solution.
“We know from our recent visitor survey that the garden is highly valued by the local community and visitors to St Andrews, so I would urge as many people as possible to show their continued support for the garden by visiting frequently over the coming months.”