Botanic Lights go out early to help badgers

A series of spectacular light shows planned for the Royal Botanic Gardens must finish by 10pm - so that they don’t disturb badgers.

Badgers at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh will not be disturbed by the light shows.

Organisers of the Botanic Lights events, which are set to run throughout November, have been told that they have to cut the events off by 10 o’clock because of “a number” of badger setts on the grounds of the popular gardens.

The badgers, which are nocturnal, are not usually disturbed after the gates are closed for the night, but fears were raised over the new programme of light shows set to draw crowds this month.

David Knott, curator of living collections at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, said: “As an environmental organisation, although we deal primarily with plants, we also have an obligation to animals.

“In the planning stages of Botanic Nights, that was one of the concerns raised.

“There are a number of badger setts, but they’re nocturnal and not often seen.”