On behalf of Lady Dalhousie and the
Trustees of the Dundee Botanic Garden Endowment Trust I would like to
take this opportunity to thank the committee and all the Friends of
the Dundee Botanic Garden for their support during 2014.
Since joining the Endowment Trust in
March of this year much has happened. We are delighted to have Lady
Dalhousie as our Patron a truly wonderful Ambassador. We now have a
corporate identity with our new logo and leaflet available, and a
striking pull up banner.
In September I attended the Dundee Food
and Flower Festival courtesy of the ‘Friends’ who allowed me to
share their stand, this gesture was greatly appreciated and allowed
me to meet many of the members over the three days and gave me the
vehicle to begin the promotion of the Trust.
I wrote a letter to every Member of the
Friends explaining about the Trust and introducing myself, this
coincided with an editorial in the Friends’ Newsletter.
This was followed by our Open Day on
Saturday 18th October, a very successful day with almost
700 people attending. Our Main Marquee hosted a very popular
Celebrity Gardeners Question Time hosted by Jim McColl, followed by
four amazing talks, with the Finale being provided by the University
of Dundee Concert Band.
Everything was themed on the Garden and
conservation, with the external activities including demonstrations
of Woodturning, Willow Weaving, Bees and Honey, Apple Pressing to
name a few. The Birds of Prey and the Face Painting were busy from
the moment we opened and for those who were working too hard Yu Spa
from the Apex were there to promote the benefits of a nice massage.
However the day’s success was also
due to the support from many areas and grateful thanks to the staff
of the Botanic Garden for all their efforts during the day and with
the build-up and breakdown.
Special thanks to the Friends for their
support with the pre publicity and all the activities that you
supported during the day and appreciation to Frances Tait for
co-ordinating all of this.
I am delighted that together we raised
the profile of the Endowment Trust and the Botanic Garden. Due to a
few very generous and an anonymous donations our Open Day raised in
excess of £160,000.00.
If you would like more information on
the Dundee Botanic Garden Endowment Trust and how you can support us
please do not hesitate to contact me.
I look forward to working with you
during 2015 but I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all
a wonderful time over the Festive Period.
Best wishes
Gordon
Gordon Ramsay
Trust Development Officer
The Dundee Botanic Garden
Endowment Trust is a registered Scottish Charity No.
SC044040
