Over the last few months we have been working with staff at St John’s, Livingston on a time-line that marks the 25th anniversary of the hospital opening.

Rather than just concentrate on a quarter of a century of developments in the hospital we decided to delve back a little further. So starting in 1128 we zoom through Livingston’s local history and discover that in the 17th century a major physic garden was established not half a mile away. In these gardens medicine, botany and gardening inter-linked and doctors were as well known and influential in botany as medicine. The garden disappeared, but not before it’s collection became the foundation of the Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh.

The time-line in the entrance area of St John’s so take a few minutes to enjoy it when you next visit.