After years of discussion and planning, building work on the Botanic Cottage finally started this morning. This is a really exciting moment for what is one of the most inspirational heritage projects happening anywhere in the country right now.

Over the next year, specialist teams led by the construction firm Maxi will rebuild the 250 year old Botanic Cottage, stone by stone, in the Demonstration Garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Once home to the Head Gardener and containing the oldest known classroom of the Scottish Enlightenment, this small but handsome building has a fascinating history. When faced with demolition in the mid-2000s, a community campaign saved the cottage, and a plan was hatched to move it across Edinburgh and rebuild it as a community and education facility, fit for the 21^st century but honouring the past at the same time. When complete, thanks to the work of expert craftsmen and builders using traditional skills, the cottage will look as it would have done in its Georgian heyday, showing off the smart architectural work of the great John Adam and James Craig.

The building site, located adjacent to Inverleith Place within our Demonstration Garden, will be managed by the contractors for the duration of the build. Every effort will be made to minimise disruption and noise for our neighbours, visitors and staff over the coming year.

Keep checking this blog and the @BotanicCottage Twitter account for the latest news on the progress of the rebuilt cottage.

This project has been supported by many generous trusts, foundations and individuals, in particular, the Heritage Lottery Fund.