What's On

We now have the list of next season’s Winter Talks which will take place on the first Thursday of the month from 10 October 2024 to 3 April 2025 (with the exception of January); refreshments afterwards.

The talks are free, but a donation to Dr Neil’s Garden would be welcomed.

Thursday 10 Oct 2024, "The Rise of Rhubarb" by Kath Hay

The introduction of rhubarb into Edinburgh by Sir Alexander Dick and links to the arrival of the printing press.

Thursday 7 Nov 2024, "A Brief History of Fancy Dress" by Kate Stephenson

From 15th century Venetian carnivals, through the pleasure gardens of the 18th century, to the Victorian costume ball, this talk considers the history and enduring popularity of fancy dress in European society. Using original descriptions, images and guides find out who wore what and why.

Thursday 5 Dec 2024, "What grows in your street? The rich and changing urban flora of Scotland" by John Grace

The  talk will show the results of a botanical survey of wild flowers in towns and cities throughout Scotland, with emphasis on how the flora is  being influenced by climate change and by local and national policies on  biodiversity.

Thursday 6 Feb 2025, "From Our Archive: Portobello" by Margaret Munro

The talk features archive photographs, including buildings and people from Portobello over the last 100 years or so.

Thursday 6 Mar 2025, "Delve into Scottish Plant Lore" by Greg Kenicer

From the practical to the fantastical, people have used plants in myriad  ways through the ages in Scotland. This talk investigates some of these uses and practices – the patterns, connections to other cultures and some of the unique (and sometimes weird) ways plants and people have worked together.

Thursday 3 Apr 2025, "Whither nature?" by Roger Crofts

In  this, hopefully thought-provoking, talk Roger asks his listeners what  is nature to you, describes what is happening around the world and in Scotland, asks who is in charge and suggests what needs to be done.

From 15th century Venetian carnivals, through the  pleasure gardens of the 18th century, to the Victorian costume ball, this talk considers the history and enduring popularity of fancy dress  in European society. Using original descriptions, images and guides find  out who wore what and why.

Kate is a clothing historian. Her clothing specialisms are school uniform and fancy dress with a side line in Scottish sex history!

This season’s Winter Talks will take place on the first Thursday of the month from 10 October 2024 to 3 April 2025 (with the exception of January); refreshments afterwards.

The talks are free, but a donation to Dr Neil’s Garden would be welcomed.

The  talk will show the results of a botanical survey of wild flowers in towns and cities throughout Scotland, with emphasis on how the flora is being influenced by climate change and by local and national policies on biodiversity.

John is an Emeritus Professor at Edinburgh University, who has been leading the Botanical Society of Scotland's project "The Urban Flora of Scotland" since 2015.

This season’s Winter Talks will take place on the first Thursday of the month from 10 October 2024 to 3 April 2025 (with the exception of January); refreshments afterwards.

The talks are free, but a donation to Dr Neil’s Garden would be welcomed.

Our annual Christmas Wreath Making Workshops will take place again this year - a few places left on the Saturday but Sunday is sold out. The cost is £50 which includes all materials and refreshments. 

To book, please email Dorothy Blacklock: dorothy.blacklock@btinternet.com