More visitors to NSW’s botanic gardens than ever before

Major events and celebrations, combined with an injection of funding for upgrades and new facilities have driven visitation to new heights across Sydney’s major botanic gardens.

Newly released visitation statistics for the 2016/17 financial year showing unprecedented growth in visitation and engagement across Sydney’s the three major botanic gardens – Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan and Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah.

Commenting on this success, Kim Ellis, Executive Director of Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands, explained “for the first time, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydneyhas hit 5 million visitors in a year. They key drivers for visitation have certainly been the Garden’s 200th Birthday celebrations and its involvement for the first time in Vivid Sydney.

“Vivid Sydney alone attracted more than 500,000 visitors over 21 nights. It was incredible coup to attract such a significant event to the Garden.”

“While the Garden is Australia’s oldest botanic garden, major facility improvements, the celebration program and the opening of The Calyx has ensured interest has never been higher in this beloved green space on Sydney harbour foreshores.”

“While horticulture, science and conservation remains central to the organisation, it is the new areas of engagement and interaction with visitors and the wider community that has been met with high levels of praise and enthusiasm.

“A new horticultural exhibition centre, major upgrades to its website and social media channels, an enhanced tour program and a revised community and formal education program have given this grand old garden a new lease of life.”

Away from central Sydney, the two western Sydney botanic gardens have also passed record visitation.

The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan is Australia’s largest botanic garden, and right in the heart of the major population growth areas of south-western Sydney. Around 400,000 visitors passed through its gates this year – a 21% increase from this time last year, but this represents an amazing 203% increase on 2013/14.

The hidden gem – the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah – has also quietly passed its record with approximately 250,000 visitors for the first time.

Ellis asded “this visitation growth shows an important trend within our community – greater interest and engagement with public open spaces.

“These spaces will only become more crucial to the health and wellbeing of our population and environment over coming years.”

Images: Mt Annan Botanic Garden (top), Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah (middle) and Vivid Sydney at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

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