A major milestone in the 300 year history of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) will be reached today when Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, officiates at the topping-out ceremony of the John Hope Gateway Visitor Centre.

The Scottish Government has invested £10m towards the John Hope Gateway, with the remaining £5.7m from grant bodies - including an award of £3.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund - trusts, corporate organisations and individuals.

The completion of external construction work on the building represents a landmark in the continuing evolution of RBGE as a scientific and horticultural research institution committed to extending public engagement.

Conceived as a showcase for sustainable design, the John Hope Gateway building integrates with majestic landscape of the Garden while also underpinning RBGE's mission of "exploring and explaining the world of plants for a better future".

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Mr Lochhead said: "It is wonderful to see the John Hope Gateway Visitor Centre so close to completion and the Scottish Government's £10m investment coming to fruition.

"And it is particularly apt that the topping-out is during Scottish Biodiversity Week. It is our goal to stop biodiversity loss by 2010 and while there have been many successes so far there are also still challenges ahead. At the heart of these challenges is the need to educate the public about the importance of biodiversity and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh have a crucial role in tackling this."

Once complete, this new facility will provide and "inspiring classroom for all ages" offering visitors an all-weather visitor centre and provide a model of sustainability. By using state-of-the-art technologies, it will enable the public to connect with the natural world and share understanding of the environmental issues which are facing us all.

Professor Stephen Blackmore, Regius Keeper, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh added: "There has never been a more important time to work in partnership to protect the fragile planet on which we live.

"The John Hope Gateway will provide scientific and environmental organisations in Scotland with an unrivalled opportunity to make a real and lasting difference."

(GK/JM)