Report to: Parks and Leisure Committee
Subject: Botanic Gardens
Date: 12 February 2008
Reporting Officer: Andrew Hassard, Director of Parks and Leisure
Contact Officer: Stephen Walker, Principal Parks and Cemeteries Development Manager Reg Maxwell, Area Manager (East)
Purpose of Report
The purpose of the report is to commence a discussion regarding the future of the Botanic Gardens, to set a new emerging context for the Gardens and to seek direction from Members.
Relevant Background Information
The Committee will be aware that the Botanic Garden is one of two City parks owned by the Council. The Open Spaces Strategy characterises City parks as being of a significant size; attracts large numbers of visitors; can accommodate major events and has heritage importance. The Open Spaces Strategy goes on to say that:
‘We will work with all external stakeholders, and everyone else who is interested, to make sure that Belfast’s City parks act as major tourist attractions for those visiting Belfast…….’
The Garden was established in 1828 by the Belfast Botanic and Horticultural Society. The Palm House was started in 1839 and completed in 1853 with the construction of the Dome; followed by the Tropical Ravine in 1889.
The Limited Company which owned the Garden constantly struggled with the financial burden of the park. To help meet the cost of development and maintenance of the Garden the company organised a wide range of events and levied an entrance fee; in addition the Garden could be hired by groups. Despite the increased revenue the Garden was finally sold to Belfast Corporation, for the sum of £10,500, in 1894 and opened to the public on 1st January 1895, becoming Belfast’s sixth public park. The Gardens have largely remained unchanged since that time. The Botanic Gardens is one of the major parks in the whole of Northern Ireland and is held in high esteem. It is a major cultural and tourist attraction, but has the potential to become an even better place to visit.
Current Position
The Committee is asked to note a number of developments impacting on Botanic Gardens.
Major developments in the area The Committee will be aware of major redevelopment in proximity to the Gardens.
1. The Ulster Museum has undertaken a major refurbishment of the building and there have been discussions with Officers to explore the potential for greater integration between the Museum and the Gardens. Indeed the Museum has approached the Council to seek approval to install a major sculpture by Richard Long, in the Gardens, to celebrate the reopening of the Museum in May 2009.
The Ulster Museum is working in partnership with the Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland who have developed a project entitled ‘Artists Rooms’ which has a collection of works by well known artists. The intention is to move pieces of art to different locations in the U.K. One piece called ‘Cornish Slate Ellipse’ by Richard Long will be displayed at the museum in Belfast.
An illustration of the piece is shown as Appendix 1. It is a flat configuration of slate pieces and is approximately 7m in length. The nature of the sculpture enables it to be displayed outdoors and it would fit well in the Pinetum area of the Garden near the Museum.
The work will attract a lot of interest from the public and visitors. The proposal is to install the piece in May 2009 in the Botanic Gardens for one year. The Museum will meet the cost of installation; public liability insurance and its subsequent removal. Publicity will be undertaken by the Museum and the Tate and signage will be provided by the Ulster Museum. It is of course important that Corporate Communication is involved in the process and that an appropriate legal agreement be put in place.
2. The Queens University of Belfast is completing its new library and again there is potential to establish improved infrastructural links between the Gardens and Queens.
3. The Lyric Theatre has been demolished and will be rebuilt on its existing site which also borders the Gardens. There are again opportunities to consider integration between the two.
It is our view that these major developments present an opportunity to consider the design of the Gardens and we would propose that Officers undertake exploratory work to identify options to identify how the Gardens can be enhanced to integrate with and link to other major facilities in the area.
The Tropical Ravine The Committee will be familiar with the Tropical Ravine House located within Botanic Gardens. It contains a wide range of exotic plants, some dating from its opening in 1889. The estimated value of the collection is believed to be in the region of £750k.
The roof of the House, which was replaced in 1980, is in poor condition and is in need of major restoration works. The glazing system is obsolete and cannot be repaired; parts are no longer available to undertake the repairs. As a result there is wind and water ingress into the building causing damage to the tropical plants. If left unrepaired the condition will continue to deteriorate.
The Friends of Botanic Gardens have met with Council Officers and have asked that the Council initiative action to refurbish the Tropical Ravine, particularly the roof as the remainder of the building is believed to be structurally sound.
Members are asked to note that The Friends of Botanic has charitable status and as such can carry out fund raising activities. The group has, since its formation in the mid 1990s, been proactive in the area of fund raising and has been supportive of the Council in preserving the Gardens.
The Friends Group has intimated that it will continue its fund raising activities and has suggested that it could undertake an appeal specific to the Tropical Ravine.
The estimated cost of the works is believed to be in excess of £1m. There are external funding sources available, notably the Heritage Lottery Fund, and it is proposed that discussions be initiated with the fund with a view to making an application late in 2009.
Key Issues
The key issues for the Committee to consider at this time are:
1. The Ulster Museum is completing a major restoration of the building which will open in May 2009; Officials from the Museum have expressed the desire to work more closely to achieve greater integration and synergy between the Gardens and the Museum; 2. Queens University will complete the new library which will open in the summer of 2009 and which presents further opportunities to create links with the Gardens; 3. The Lyric Theatre has been demolished and will be reconstructed during 2009/10 and reopened in the Autumn of 2010 again presenting opportunities to consider links with the Garden; 4. Given the major infrastructure development ongoing within the environs of the Gardens it would be opportune to consider the layout in terms of access; movement etc 5. The Ulster Museum wishes to install on a temporary basis a piece of sculpture in the grounds of Botanic Gardens, all costs will be met by the Museum; 6. The Tropical Ravine House located in Botanic Gardens is in need of restoration; the Council has been approached to consider how it might propose to undertake the necessary works; 7. This is an opportune time for the Council to consider how it might support Botanic Gardens to ensure that it continues to be a premier park within the City and a major attraction for those who live in, work in and visit Belfast
Resource Implications
Financial There are no financial implications at this time.
The cost of displaying the piece of art in the Gardens will be met by the Ulster Museum who will also undertake the public liability insurance requirements.
Human Resources There are no additional human resource implications.
Asset and Other Implications The displaying of the art work in the Gardens will enhance its attractiveness and will reflect improved working between the Council and the Ulster Museum.
Recommendations
It is recommended that the Committee agree:
1. to the installation of the art work on a temporary basis subject to an appropriate legal agreement between the Council and the Ulster Museum; 2. to commence a process leading to the submission of an application to appropriate funding bodies to seek financial support to refurbish the tropical ravine; 3. that the Friends of Botanic Gardens be encouraged to continue with its fund raising activities in support of the preservation of the Gardens; 4. that Officers be tasked to undertake a review of the Gardens to explore how it might be better integrated to other physical developments in the area.
Key to Abbreviations
None.
Documents Attached
Appendix 1: photograph of ‘Cornish Slate Ellipse’