The National Botanic Garden of Wales

Analysis

The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Carmarthenshire. It was registered in April 1994, 32 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 02909098). It says it provides buildings/facilities/open space, sponsors or undertakes research and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The National Botanic Garden of Wales reported income of £5.4m and spending of £4.9m, spending 90% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £5.0m to £5.4m (+8.5%), an average of +2.1% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income rose by 23%. Over the whole period it spent 95% of the income it received.

Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, The National Botanic Garden of Wales sits at the 99th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 98th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include John Bagley Music Trust (£5.4m), Elmhurst Ballet School (£5.4m) and The Guildhall Trust (£5.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 67%, trading 29% and donations and legacies 3.3%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £23k. Charitable activities took 69% of spending and raising funds 31%. Reserves of £433k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 83 people.