Botanical Gardens

What Botanical Gardens does

Sheffield Botanical Gardens Trust (SBGT) is a registered UK charity (No. 1162566) that operates and refurbishes the Sheffield Botanical Gardens, a 19th-century heritage site comprising over 18 themed garden areas based on geographical and botanical themes. The Trust's primary function is to maintain plant collections and historic buildings for the education and benefit of the communities of Sheffield and the surrounding region. Its operating model blends free public garden access with a structured programme of paid workshops, courses, guided tours, theatrical performances, plant sales, and children's holiday activities, supplemented by venue hire of the Dorothy Fox Education Centre.

The Trust's product surface spans eight documented offerings: general garden visits, hireable education space (Dorothy Fox Centre), guided walking tours with rotating monthly themes, education courses and workshops (botanical painting, garden design, nature journaling, horticulture qualifications), the Iris Database / Plant Explorer digital tool for plant location and documentation, the annual Art in the Gardens outdoor market, the Education Programme for Schools with downloadable curriculum resources, and recurring plant sales. The technology stack is modest: a Squarespace-hosted website (sbg.org.uk) with Google Calendar integration, the externally hosted sbg.gardenexplorer.org database, and third-party ticketing through Ticket Tailor and Eventbrite. No mobile application, public API, or AI/ML capability is documented.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: donations and charitable contributions (the Trust's foundational funding model), event and workshop fees (theatrical performances, education workshops, botanical painting courses, children's holiday programmes priced £20–£100), and venue hire of the Dorothy Fox Centre. Public tours operate on a suggested £3 donation basis and many programmes (plant swaps, general entry) are free. Go-to-market is community-led: programming volume is delivered in partnership with a network that includes the Friends of Botanical Gardens Sheffield (FOBS, established 1984), Sheffield College (vocational horticulture qualifications), The Pantaloons Theatre Company, Inspire Nature, Hardy Plant Society, Horatio's Garden, Sheffield Organic Growers, Sheffield Cactus & Succulent Society, and Sheffield Girls' Sixth Form. Customer segments span the general public, schools and educational institutions, horticulture enthusiasts and hobbyists, children and families, and horticultural professionals.

Name

Botanical Gardens

Legal name

Sheffield Botanical Gardens Trust

Website

https://sbg.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sheffield Botanical Gardens Trust is a registered UK charity (No. 1162566) that operates the 19th-century Sheffield Botanical Gardens, delivering public garden access, educational workshops, guided tours, theatre, plant sales, and venue hire to Sheffield communities and regional visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Botanical Gardens / Public Garden Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Gardens & Botanical Attractions (THAJACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

Keywords

• Botanical garden management
• Horticultural education programmes
• Community garden charity
• Public garden visits
• Gardening workshops and tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Sheffield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Support: The Trust is a registered charity (No. 1162566) that raises funds to look after plant collections and buildings for the education and benefit of the communities of Sheffield and the entire region.
2. Event and Workshop Fees: Various paid events including theatrical performances (tickets via Ticket Tailor), educational workshops, botanical painting courses, and holiday activity programs for children.
3. Venue Hire: The Dorothy Fox Centre is available for hire, providing educational and event space within the gardens.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sheffield Botanical Gardens Trust operates and maintains a free public botanical garden in Sheffield, UK, featuring over 18 themed garden areas connected by walking paths. Around this core site, the Trust delivers paid and free programming including guided tours, educational workshops (botanical painting, garden design, nature journaling), school education programmes, plant sales, theatrical performances, and venue hire from the Dorothy Fox Education Centre. The Trust is a registered charity (No. 1162566) that funds these activities through donations, event fees, and venue hire.

Product overview

Sheffield Botanical Gardens Trust operates a single-site botanical garden with a unified visitor offering. The core product is public access to 18+ themed garden areas within the Gardens. Supporting products include the Dorothy Fox Education Centre (venue hire), guided tours (public and private), educational workshops and courses (botanical painting, garden design, nature journaling), and a diverse events program spanning culture (theatre), horticulture (plant sales), education, and community activities. The Trust also maintains an Iris Database / Plant Explorer digital tool for plant collection documentation. All offerings are coordinated through the Trust and partner organizations including Friends of Botanical Gardens Sheffield (FOBS).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Botanical Gardens Visit Free public access to the Sheffield Botanical Gardens, featuring over 18 themed garden areas based on geographical or botanical themes, connected by winding paths, intended for general visitors from Sheffield and the wider region.
• Dorothy Fox Centre Venue Hire Hireable education and event space within the gardens, equipped for botanical art and nature activities, available for workshops, courses, community events, and meetings.
• Guided Tours Program Guided walking tours of the gardens with monthly thematic focuses such as tropical plants, unusual edibles, pollinators, medicinal plants, and seasonal interests, offered on a suggested donation basis.
• Education Courses and Workshops Paid workshops and short courses including botanical painting (GBP 40-100), Introduction to Garden Design (GBP 65-85), Introduction to Planting Design (GBP 65-85), nature journaling, sketching, and wreath-making (GBP 45 with materials), for adult hobbyists and learners.
• Education Programme for Schools Structured horticulture education programme for schools and educational groups, including curriculum-aligned activities and downloadable resources, plus a Level 2 Adult Horticulture Qualification delivered in partnership with Sheffield College.
• Iris Database and Plant Explorer Documented collection of plants and trees in the Gardens, accessible online or via mobile on-site, allowing visitors to locate specific plants and access botanical information from home or while visiting.
• Art in the Gardens Event Annual outdoor art market held in the Gardens on September 5, featuring artists and craft makers from across the UK.
• Plant Sales Periodic plant sales and swaps held in the gardens, including events by Sheffield Plant Swap, Hardy Plant Society (South Pennine Group), and Friends of Botanical Gardens Sheffield, featuring hardy plants, cacti, succulents, and seasonal exchanges.
• Children's Holiday Activities Holiday nature activities for children aged 5-12, including Shake Out holiday camp (GBP 30 per child per day) and GO WILD sessions (GBP 32 per child) delivered with Inspire Nature, following forest school ethos.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Friends of Botanical Gardens Sheffield (FOBS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FOBS organization provides significant support including organizing tours, talks, and events. They celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2024. FOBS runs the Florilegium Society and contributes to educational programming and community engagement.
• Sheffield CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners to deliver Level 2 Adult Horticulture Qualification at Sheffield Botanical Gardens, providing vocational education in horticulture and land-based subjects.
• The Pantaloons Theatre CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCritically-acclaimed theatre company presenting outdoor Shakespeare and literary adaptations in the Gardens during summer months, attracting visitors and providing cultural programming.
• Inspire NatureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRuns GO WILD holiday clubs for children aged 5-12 following forest school ethos, delivering nature-based activities and crafts in the Gardens.
• Sheffield Organic GrowersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban fruit tree nursery workers co-op providing talks on growing fruit in Sheffield, sharing expertise on tree planting including rootstocks, staking, and mulching.
• Sheffield Cactus & Succulent SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual plant show celebrating cacti and succulents, drawing enthusiasts and providing expert horticultural knowledge.
• Hardy Plant Society (South Pennine Group)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegular plant sales offering wide selection of hardy plants grown by expert members, with free admission to visitors.
• Horatio's GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity creating accessible gardens at healthcare settings; head gardener shares the story of the award-winning Chelsea Flower Show design transferred to Sheffield Northern General Hospital.
• Sheffield Girls' Sixth FormminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudents created FLOWERS AROUND THE GLOBE family event celebrating plants, culture and community as enrichment activity.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Brooklyn Botanic Garden: US nonprofit urban botanic garden offering curated plant collections, education, and community programming. Comparable operating philosophy (urban garden, charity-led, education focus) at substantially larger scale.
• RHS Garden Wisley: The Royal Horticultural Society's flagship garden in Surrey, offering gardens, plant sales, education, and events. Comparable in being a UK garden charity with educational programming, but operating at significantly greater scale and with a paid-membership model.
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: The UK's flagship botanic garden and UNESCO World Heritage site. Kew is a much larger, government-funded comparator operating extensive plant collections, education, and visitor programmes, providing a benchmark for scale, governance, and educational reach against which Sheffield's Trust positioning can be assessed.
• New York Botanical Garden: Major US nonprofit botanic garden with extensive collections, education, and events. Operates at far larger scale than Sheffield's Trust but shares the charitable, education-led, events-driven operating model for plant-based visitor attractions.

Direct peers

• Chelsea Physic Garden: London's historic botanic garden operating as a charity with paid admission, education programmes, and venue hire. Closely comparable in operating model (small charity, education focus, event-led earned income) though with stronger pricing power due to its London location.
• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: A UK charitable botanic garden operating a major plant collection, education programmes, and visitor attractions. RBGE is the closest UK analogue in mission (botanical conservation and public education), governance (trust structure), and programming mix (courses, events, plant sales).
• Cambridge University Botanic Garden: A UK university-affiliated botanic garden with curated plant collections, education programmes, and ticketed events. Shares Sheffield's Trust structure (charitable, education-led) at a similar mid-size scale.
• Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum: The UK's oldest botanic garden, a university-affiliated charitable garden with plant collections, education, and events. Closely comparable to Sheffield in heritage, scale, and education-led programming, with a similar mix of ticketed and free offerings.
• Wakehurst: Kew's country estate in Sussex, offering gardens, events, and education. Comparable as a UK heritage botanical visitor destination with event programming and education offerings.
• Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest: A UK conifer and pinetum collection operated by Forestry England in partnership with Kew. Comparable as a UK plant-collection attraction with educational programming and visitor engagement, though publicly rather than charitably operated.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Botanical Gardens