The much-loved Botanic Gardens in Glasgow – with its historic link to the Helensburgh area – will be the centrepiece of an online presentation to a Helensburgh community group next week.

The gardens' manager, Ewen Donaldson, will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the U3A (University of the Third Age) group for the Helensburgh and district area.

The talk is being held via Zoom on Monday, March 1 at 2pm.

Founded in 1817 on an eight-acre site at the western end of Sauchiehall Street – at that time the western edge of the city – the gardens have been located on their present site on the banks of the River Kelvin since 1842, and have been run by the Glasgow Corporation – now Glasgow City Council – since 1891.

The Kibble Palace was originally a glasshouse at the Coulport home of Victorian entrepreneur John Kibble

The Kibble Palace was originally a glasshouse at the Coulport home of Victorian entrepreneur John Kibble

The Kibble Palace, arguably the best known of the gardens’ many features, was originally a private conservatory at the Coulport home of Victorian entrepreneur John Kibble, until he sold the structure in 1871 to the Royal Botanical Institution of Glasgow, which owned and ran the gardens at the time.

It was moved to its present site in 1873, and was first used as a concert hall and meeting place, hosting celebrated speakers of the day such as William Gladstone and Benjamin Disraeli.

READ MORE: Eye on Millig: The man behind Glasgow's famous Kibble Palace

U3A is a UK-wide movement bringing together people who are no longer in full-time employment to develop interests and continue their learning in a friendly and informal environment.

Members of the group will receive an invitation by email to follow the link and join the meeting between 1.45pm and 2pm.

If you’re not a member of the group and would like to join, or simply to find out more information, you’ll find all the details on the group’s website at u3asites.org.uk/helensburgh.