Epic 356-mile run around Scotland’s botanic gardens to save the world’s plants
March 2024
Mountainous terrain, unpredictable weather and clouds of midges are all in a day’s work at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), as staff member George Sherriffs prepares for his new, ultra-marathon challenge - running an incredible 356 miles over eight days to help save the world’s plants.
This ambitious feat will see RBGE’s librarian encompass the organisation’s three sister gardens, beginning his race at Benmore Botanic Garden in Argyll on Tuesday, April 23, before journeying south to Logan Botanic Garden in Dumfries & Galloway and Dawyck Botanic Garden in the Scottish Borders. For the final leg of this astonishing journey, George will head north, arriving at Inverleith House at the heart of the Edinburgh Garden on Tuesday, April 30. The route, amidst some of Scotland’s most scenic, yet hilliest backdrops, includes sections where he will run distances of more than 50 miles in one day.
Originally scheduled to take place in 2020 during RBGE’s 350th anniversary year, with the 356-mile distance aligning almost perfectly with the anniversary year, it had to be postponed because of the pandemic. The mammoth run will be an incredible physical and mental endeavour for George, but it will help highlight the vital research and conservation work taking place behind-the-scenes at the four botanic gardens and raise funds in the fight against biodiversity loss and the climate crisis.
From the beginning of George’s epic journey at Benmore to the last few undoubtedly exhausted steps at Edinburgh, RBGE encourages people across Scotland to join in and support this massive endeavour. Please donate to the campaign, cheer George on at the four Gardens, or even run alongside him for one mile or 10.
Each of the four gardens are different in topography, soils and climate, enabling an exceptionally wide range of plants to be grown. Together, Benmore, Logan, Dawyck and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh constitute one of the richest plant collections on Earth.
To donate to the campaign, click here.
Photograph: George Sherriffs portrait
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