Belle and Sebastian have thrown their weight behind a campaign to raise funds for the development of a Glasgow Botanic Gardens ‘Tree Hub’.
The appeal, which aims to raise £100,000 for the project, is aimed at those from the West End and beyond.

The band famously played a free open-air show at the Botanics in 2004, which was voted as one of the top 20 gigs of all time in a poll for the Scotsman.

Belles’ drummer Richard Colburn, a WestEnder and regular at the Gardens, said:
“Glasgow Botanic Gardens is synonymous with the West End of the city and, like the trees, there’s so much diversity and vibrancy in the area. We played a big outdoor show in the gardens about 12 years ago and it was fantastic to play there. It’s a peaceful space that anyone who’s lived nearby will definitely have enjoyed. It’s ideal for chilling out and get away from the traffic and urban life.

“The new Tree Hub is set to be an exciting addition to the Gardens and the stories behind the trees and their collectors will captivate people. Anyone who’s appreciated those Gardens should give what they can so we can enhance this important and so widely used space.”

The Tree Hub is a joint project between the Friends of Glasgow Botanics and the National Tree Collections of Scotland, will be a grand information point that links the city’s trees with other major tree collections in Scotland.

The campaign, launched last Monday by TV presenter Cat Cubie, has also been backed by former local resident Alan Cumming.

More at www.glasgowbotanicgardens.com/about-the-friends/donate/