Visitor numbers to a garden attraction threatened with closure four years ago have more than doubled.
Almost 5,000 people visited St Andrews Botanic Garden in April, and already this month twice as many have been through the gates than last May.
The garden faced an uncertain future when Fife Council, which leased it from the University of St Andrews, said it could no longer afford to run it.
However, efforts by the Friends of St Andrews Botanic Garden have started to pay off. Although investment in the garden is limited until the current five-year lease is extended, Friends director James Hearsum said “small but noticeable improvements” were being made, including the opening of a caf.
He said he had a letter of intent from the university to sign a long-term lease at or before the expiry of the current lease.
He said: “That is very important, because without a long-term lease we can’t access capital funding from the larger donors and lenders.”
While early efforts focussed on the transition of operations from the council to the trust, Mr Hearsum said: “We have all the pieces in place to grow, and that’s critical.”
This summer, an international food crops trail is to be launched in the large glasshouse, which will help promote the venue.
Programmes, including educational initiatives, are also being developed, and it is hoped to make the garden a community hub by establishing partnerships with various groups.