Garden visitor attraction blooms

The new centre hopes to help increase visitor numbers

A new £1.6m visitor centre at Dawyck Botanic Garden in the Borders is set to be officially opened.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead will carry out the ceremony during a visit to the region.

The garden is already among the Borders top paid-for attractions but the new centre should take visitor numbers from 21,000 to more than 30,000 by 2017.

Mr Lochhead said he hoped the centre would help "improve access" to some of Scotland's unique habitats.

Dawyck, near Peebles, is one of four sites run by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RGBE).

It boasts some of the tallest trees in Britain.

Prof Stephen Blackmore, RGBE Regius Keeper, said the new centre could make the site event more attractive to visitors.

He added: "We recognise Dawyck not only plays a key role in the research and conservation of RBGE but in the life of the local community.

"By improving our offering of educational and cultural events and exhibitions our aim is both to communicate science and to engage the public by providing a quality visitor experience."