The National Botanic Garden of Wales is delighted to announce that we are in receipt of a significant grant from the Julia Rausing Trust. The grant of £1.3m will enable the Garden to start working on the refurbishment of the Great Glasshouse, which is one of the most iconic structures in the Garden and when it was built, was the largest single-span glass structure in the world.
2025 is the 25th Anniversary of the National Botanic Garden of Wales and this grant will significantly accelerate the restoration of the Great Glasshouse as part of our 25th Anniversary plans.
The Great Glasshouse is a pivotal component of the Garden’s mission, housing one of the world’s largest collection of Mediterranean plants under a single roof. It serves as a living laboratory for conversation, research, year round visitor engagement and lifelong learning. After 25 years of operation, the mechanical infrastructure and facilities of our Great Glasshouse require restoration and this grant enables us to embark on the first phase of this multi-phased project. Some of the planned refurbishment is crucial to maintaining the precise environmental conditions needed for the plants within the structure, and it will reduce energy consumption and help us meet modern sustainability standards.
Dr Lucy A Sutherland, Director, National Botanic Garden of Wales commented:
“As we move into our 25th Anniversary year in 2025, we are thrilled to be awarded this significant grant from The Julia Rausing Trust to help refurbish our iconic, Foster + Associates designed Great Glasshouse. It is a focal point of our Garden and landscape.“
