This prestigious award will contribute towards the restoration of the historic glasshouses, as well as to the creation of new visitor facilities to increase learning and engagement with science, plants, and environmental issues.

“The Wolfson Foundation’s generous support will help grow BBG’s important role in plant conservation, science, and public engagement with the environmental challenges we face.” – Lance Goffort, Head of Horticulture at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

BBG is one of just over 100 internationally accredited botanic gardens in the world, and cares for a Living Collection of 30,000 plants of unique scientific and heritage significance, some rare and now critically endangered in the wild. The Victorian glasshouses, identified as at risk by Historic England, will now be carefully restored to the original designs, providing the perfect conditions to protect and grow BBG’s globally significant Living Collection. Our Project is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and will preserve BBG as a whole institution, its glasshouses, living collection, landscape and archives to operate sustainably and increase learning and engagement with science.

The Wolfson Foundation’s grant will increase BBG’s role in plant conservation and environmental education, reviving its founding scientific purpose through collaboration with other botanic gardens and higher education partners including the University of Birmingham and Birmingham City University. The project will safeguard a unique institution and create a place of horticultural excellence, research and learning in an outstanding biodiverse natural environment in Birmingham.

As part of this Project, BBG will create new outdoor learning facilities that will enable us to deliver a step change in schools learning outside the classroom and wider public engagement. We will expand learning provision around plants, heritage, biodiversity and environmental sustainability, to meet growing demand for BBG’s award-winning schools’ programme including opportunities for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) learning.

Birmingham Botanical Gardens’ Chair, Sue Beardsmore says:
“Our uniquely biodiverse natural environment is one of the UK’s most significant historic botanic gardens and part of Birmingham and the West Midlands’, richly diverse cultural history and way of life. This safe, peaceful space is part of the green heart of Birmingham and a hugely treasured place to the city, the West Midlands region and its communities. We are absolutely delighted to have the support of the Wolfson Foundation at such an important moment.”

With the Wolfson Foundation’s grant, alongside the generous pledges of support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund (£9m), and an additional £8m from The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Julia Rausing Trust, The Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust and others, the Gardens are now over 90% funded for the first phase of the redevelopment and preserving this historic estate, nursery and iconic glasshouses for future generations. This latest grant brings BBG closer to realising its £19.4m capital project; the first phase of a transformational masterplan development for the Gardens, to be delivered over the next 10 years.

BBG opened in 1832 and is one of the UK’s most significant historic Botanic Gardens – Grade II*. The collection origins can be traced directly through archival records of the Botanical & Horticultural Society back to 1829. The Gardens were designed by J.C. Loudon, a leading 19th century horticulturalist and garden designer, associated with the development of public open space and new urban parks. His design for BBG was the first embodiment of his concepts for public open space and predates his work at the Derby Arboretum of 1839, considered the oldest British public park.

The structure of J.C. Loudon’s original design has changed little, and the landscape retains many original 19th century features, including the overall layout and range of four glasshouses (Lily, Palm, Mediterranean and Arid).

The restoration of the glasshouses will enable BBG to develop a new Living Collection under glass with a focus on the conservation of endangered plant species in controlled climates that represent different world habitats. This will be a base for partnering scientific research, engagement and learning on themes such as climate tolerance, future medicinal studies and food sources. The glasshouses will reconnect people with the critical role that plants play for people and the planet.

About The Wolfson Foundation
The Wolfson Foundation is an independent charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to support civil society by investing in excellent projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts.

Since it was established in 1955, some £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) has been awarded to more than 14,000 projects throughout the UK, all on the basis of expert review.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

About The Julia Rausing Trust
The Julia Rausing Trust has been established in memory of the late British philanthropist Julia Rausing, (née Delves-Broughton), who died in 2024.

The Julia Rausing Trust will see £100million donated to charities and organisations in its first year and annually thereafter, making it one of the largest charitable funds in the UK.

Julia Rausing co-founded The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust in 2014. She was widely known for her unwavering commitment to philanthropy and her impactful contributions to a wide range of UK charitable causes. She was instrumental in building The Julia and Hans Rausing Trust into one of the largest philanthropic funds in the country, donating £400 million to causes across Health, Welfare, and the Arts, primarily within the UK.