| A university spokesman said, “We are looking at potential savings in our gardens and grounds departments, and as part of that we will give consideration to the place of the botanic garden in the university.
“We will prioritise services which are relevant to the university’s teaching and research needs.”
Former curator Leslie Bisset, who retired in 2000, said the garden was a great asset to Dundee and added, “I would hate to see anything happen to it.”
He understood that the university had to prioritise its funding, but he was concerned about the possible effect of cuts on the valuable work being done.
The garden, which occupies 9.5 hectares of land between Riverside Drive and Perth Road, has been open to the public since its foundation in 1971 and is regarded as one of the city’s key visitor attractions.
It is also a hugely-important educational resource, not only for the university but for local schools too.
Mr Bisset said he believed the garden was also an important part of Dundee’s tourism sector and he hoped that if the university ever gave it up it would be possible for the city as a whole to keep it going.
The garden, lovingly tended by curator Alasdair Hood and his small staff, has been described as the “jewel in the crown of the university”.
Douglas Thomson, honorary president of the Friends of the Botanic Garden, said he had not heard about any proposals to close or downsize the garden.
He said, “As far as I know they will carry on running the garden until 2071 when their lease ends. They have never indicated to me that they intend anything other than carrying on.” |
