Memorandum submitted by The National Botanic
Garden of Wales
Thank you for your letter of 18 April 2000,
and your Committee's interest in this project.
I set out below a brief description of the project,
together with brief responses to your more specific enquiries.
PROJECT OUTLINE
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a £43.6
million landmark Millennium project that has secured funding of
£21.6 million from the Millennium Commission. It is the first
Botanic Garden built in the UK for 200 years.
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is setting
the agenda for our future in education, science, botany, the environment,
conservation, tourism, arts and leisure.
The centrepiece of the project is the Great
Glasshouse, the world's largest single span glasshouse, which
utilises computerised climate control to provide a suitable environment
for plants from the various areas of the world, which enjoy a
Mediterranean climate. The Great Glasshouse will provide a home
for rare and threatened species of plants from the world's most
endangered habitats.
In addition, visitors will have access to:
— 568 acres including parklands and
naturalised habitats,
— A Water Discovery Centre sponsored
by Hyder,
— A Science centre for international
research and
— The Physicians of Myddfai exhibition,
which uses a local legend to illustrate the uses of plants in
medicine and healing.
The Garden utilises the site of the former Middleton
Hall, a Seventeenth Century estate, whose gardens were designed
by an associate of Capability Brown. The Garden included seven
man made lakes, which were destroyed in the 1930's , but are being
restored as a significant feature of the project. Many of the
surviving outbuildings of the old Middleton Estate have been utilised
for the project. The former stable block, for example, provides
a shop, a cafe« and administrative offices.
The Garden will fulfil an educational role through
projects fitting into the school examining ages of key stages
one to four. The Garden's permanent education staff teach school
parties in areas including ecology, geography and plant development
as well as providing lifelong learning opportunities in botanic
and garden related areas.
The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a company
limited by guarantee. Registered in Wales with No 2909098 and
a Charity registered with No 1036354. It has managed the construction
of the Garden, and the necessary fundraising. The company, and
its subsidiaries will continue to manage the operation and future
development of the Garden.
The garden was intended to mark the Millennium
by promoting for the public benefit the conservation of the plant
species of the world and to advance the education of the public
in the science of plants and ecology in general.
THE ROLE
OF THE
MILLENNIUM COMMISSION
The Millennium Commission team led by David
Baird (the Millennium Commission's representative in Wales) has
provided an exceptional level of support and advice to the NBGW
Board of Trustees and Management Team. Their monitoring of the
project has been thorough.
PROJECT BUDGET
The Garden's application for Millennium funding
included a cost summary totalling £43.3 million. No material
changes to this budget are anticipated other than a £0.3
million premium which was paid on acquisition of the stable block.
A schedule setting out sources of funding for
the project is attached as Appendix 1 to this letter.
PROJECT TIMETABLE
|
| Phase | Estimated completion
| Actual completion |
|
| 1 | September 1998
| December 1998 |
| 2 | May 2000
| May 2000 |
| Science Centre Phase 1 | June 2001
| |
| Science Centre Phase 2 | November 2002
| |
|
The project timetable has extended slightly, because the
Garden has not committed to the commencement of work until funds
have been in place.
LONG TERM
VIABILITY
It is currently intended that the Garden be self-supporting.
Its revenue sources are expected to be:
— Visitor revenue from admissions, as well as retail
and catering actitivity;
— Revenue grants in respect of science and education;
— Continued fundraising from private sources; and
The Trustees are unaware of any other Botanical Garden, which
does not receive subsidies.
The Trustees believe that the quality of the Garden as a
visitor attraction, which will improve as the Garden matures,
together with pro active marketing and fundraising gives confidence
that the Garden can be viable in the long term. The Trustees are
unaware at this time of any indication to the contrary.
| 
