Birmingham Botanical Gardens has been championing the city’s amazing urban gardens and natural green spaces as part of a travel trade trip to India.
Showcasing the Grade II* listed Victorian gardens and glasshouses to international audiences is part of its ‘Growing Our Green Heritage Project’, which is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and aims to secure the Gardens’ long-term future.
Alongside the Botanical Gardens the ‘Birmingham’s Gardens’ trip, which was supported by the West Midlands Growth Company, also represented Winterbourne House and Gardens, Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens and Martineau Gardens.
“This event served as an exceptional networking opportunity and an ideal platform to propel Birmingham’s Gardens toward reaching new audiences,” said Marketing and Communications Manager JJ Talat.
“The insights gained during the trip were invaluable, offering lots of learning of how we can expand and refine our product to widen our appeal,” she added.
JJ met with over 100 Indian travel buyers over the two days and had the chance to network with other UK suppliers. During her visit, she championed Birmingham’s green urban Gardens and raised awareness of the natural green spaces in Birmingham City and their benefits, alongside the diverse cultural connections to Birmingham and links to Britain’s renowned reputation of creating gardens.
“This was a perfect opportunity to showcase the Birmingham Gardens to the Indian market and, from my perspective, to test Birmingham Botanical Gardens offer to a new audience,” said JJ.
“In particular we highlighted the appeal of the city’s Gardens to different visitor sectors – historical, botanical, family days out, wellbeing, and of course we also shared the charitable ambitions and vision and our award-winning education programmes.
“The event was highly successful, and our offer was received with great enthusiasm. We look forward to welcoming Indian buyers to the Gardens for a VisitBritain familiarisation trip at the end of this month,” she added.
In addition to Birmingham’s Gardens, the visit also included a range of other West Midlands-based leisure and tourism organisations including Birmingham Airport, Merlin Entertainments, Black Country Living Museum, Visit Shakespeare England and the West Midlands Growth Company, the economic development agency for Birmingham and the West Midlands. Located just a mile from the city centre in Edgbaston, the Grade II* listed site is home to 7,000 plants and trees – the largest and most diverse botanic collection in central England. As well as its renowned horticultural splendour, the 15-acre green oasis offers a host of added attractions with its calendar of events, exhibitions, and activities.
It provides a place for people to meet up and enjoy the life-enhancing benefits of spending time surrounded by nature.
For more information visit birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk
