Congratulating Sir Simon Milne MBE on his Retirement from RBGE and Welcoming the New Regius Keeper, Dr Julia Knights

That the Parliament congratulates Sir Simon Milne MBE on his retirement as Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) after more than a decade of dedicated service; notes that Sir Simon joined the RBGE in 2014, following previous postings at the Scottish Wildlife Trust and the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and Arboretum, as well as a distinguished military career; recognises that he was instrumental in building partnerships between the RBGE and international stakeholders, supporting British diplomacy and positioning the Gardens at the forefront of global research; commends his leadership in the restoration of the RBGE palm houses; applauds Sir Simon and his colleagues for what it considers have been their significant contributions both nationally and internationally to biodiversity research, horticulture, education and conservation, including the propagation of rare species and their reintroduction to the wild, and for widening access to nature through community engagement programmes; wishes Sir Simon the very best in his retirement; welcomes Dr Julia Knights as the 17th Regius Keeper, and believes that Julia's extensive international experience in diplomacy, climate change and the environmental sector will undoubtedly continue Sir Simon’s legacy and further enhance Scotland’s global reputation.