The Inverness Botanic Gardens and Café is in full bloom and now it’s in the running for not one, but two major awards at this year’s Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards.
Finalists were revealed today and the much-loved Inverness attraction has been shortlisted for Visitor Attraction of the Year and the Climate Action Award.
Operated by High Life Highland, the gardens have been a part of the city’s heart and soul since opening in 1994, offering a lush green haven for locals and tourists alike.
Now, their commitment to sustainability and inclusive community work has caught the eye of judges.
From vibrant floral displays to the scent of homegrown herbs in the café kitchen, everything here has been nurtured with purpose.
At the centre of it all is a small but mighty team 19 core staff and 32 volunteers who keep the gardens, café and horticultural programmes running every day of the year.
Facilities Manager Ewan Mackintosh says the recognition means the world.
“We are absolutely thrilled and extremely proud,” he said.
“Climate action is right at the centre of everything we do this is not a tick box exercise for us.”
The team uses a fully circular food model in Café Botanics, composting all food and packaging waste on-site and turning it into rich soil to grow more produce.
Raised beds are made from recycled marine and agricultural plastic.
Rainwater is harvested, peat-free compost is used and the whole site is heated by a biomass boiler.
More than 1,000 hanging baskets are returned to the gardens every autumn, cleaned and reused the following year.
But there’s more than sustainability growing here.
The GROW Project offers a vital space for horticultural learning and support for individuals with additional needs a quiet triumph woven through the heart of the gardens.
Michael Boylan, Chair of the High Life Highland Trading Board, praised the team for their dedication.
“They excel in providing a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone who visits,” he said.
“Their green credentials are second to none.”
Winners of the Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards will be announced at a gala dinner in October.
Whatever the outcome, Inverness Botanic Gardens has already shown what a flourishing future can look like.
