Latest news with #RoyalNationalInstitutefortheBlind

Edinburgh Reporter

Floral Clock is bloomin' lovely this year

The Floral Clock in Princes Street Gardens is all spruced up and looking lovely now that the council's parks department have created the 2025 display which commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). The Rt Hon Lord Provost was joined by representatives from RNIB and visually impaired members of the community to mark the completion of the new design, which takes three gardeners around six weeks to create. More than 35,000 flowers and plants are used to create the face of the clock, which will be in bloom until October. This includes plants like antennaria, crassula, echevaria, sedum and saxifrage and annuals such as pyrethrum, begonias and geraniums. Edinburgh's Lord Provost Robert Aldridge said: 'Seeing the floral clock take shape is a wonderful annual tradition and this year doesn't disappoint, with a beautiful display in honour of a worthwhile cause. 'The RNIB provides essential support to blind and visually impaired people, and in 2025 they mark a real milestone with the 200th anniversary of braille. I hope the clock's design will give people pause to reflect on just how important braille is to all those to use it. 'Thanks to the hard-working parks team who have spent the past six weeks creating the clock, which will be enjoyed by many thousands of people throughout summer. 'The RNIB is the UK's leading sight loss charity which offers practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people, their families and carers. 'This year, the RNIB is marking the 200th anniversary of the invention of braille, a code based on six dots used to represent the alphabet and numbers.' James Adams, Director of RNIB Scotland, said: 'It is a great honour that RNIB has been chosen for this year's floral clock. It marks the 200th anniversary of the invention of braille which opened up opportunity for blind and partially sighted people to be able to access the written word, and with that came the liberation of being able to also receive information that is taken for granted by wider society. 'Braille is a system that endures, and continues to transform the lives of blind and partially sighted people, offering them privacy, independence, and opportunity. RNIB was brought into existence to improve tactile literacy and we still work every day to widen access for blind and partially sighted people. 'Therefore, we are delighted to have Braille200 so prominently marked in the heart of Edinburgh and give everyone the opportunity to celebrate Braille and include accessibility in their lives.' This is the oldest floral clock in the world and was first made in 1903. Floral Clock official opening Edinburgh Princes Street Gardens. Pic Alan Simpson 17/6/2025 Floral Clock official opening Edinburgh Princes Street Gardens. Pic Alan Simpson 17/6/2025 Floral Clock official opening Edinburgh Princes Street Gardens. L-R James Adams, director rnib Scotland, Alan Stewart, community member Gillian Hallard RNIB Scotland Robin Spinks, RNIB Lord Provost Jane Coates community manager rnib Scotland Lorna, community member Jimmy Melhench, community member Pic Alan Simpson 17/6/2025 Floral Clock official opening Edinburgh Princes Street Gardens. Pic Alan Simpson 17/6/2025 Floral Clock official opening Edinburgh Princes Street Gardens. L-R James Adams, director rnib Scotland, Alan Stewart, community member Gillian Hallard RNIB Scotland Robin Spinks, RNIB Lord Provost Jane Coates community manager rnib Scotland Lorna, community member Jimmy Melhench, community member Pic Alan Simpson 17/6/2025 Floral Clock official opening Edinburgh Princes Street Gardens. L-R Lord Provost Robert Aldridge Jane Coates community manager RNIB Scotland Pic Alan Simpson 17/6/2025 Floral Clock official opening Edinburgh Princes Street Gardens. Pic Alan Simpson 17/6/2025 Like this: Like Related