Enhancing accessibility and education: Donor-gifted scooters ease Garden exploration

Visitors can now explore UBC Botanical Garden using new scooters named “Margaret” and “Charlie,” thanks to two botanical enthusiasts of the same names.

Longtime supporters of the Garden and horticultural adventurers, Margaret and Charlie recently shared their love of plants by generously gifting these scooters. The vehicles will provide individuals needing mobility assistance with an easy way to navigate the Garden’s expansive 110-acre grounds and collection of approximately 30,000 plants.

The new scooters—one red for Margaret and the other blue for Charlie—can be rented by visitors to the Garden. The battery-powered, four-wheel vehicles feature front and rear suspension for a smooth ride, a digital LCD dashboard, and lights to illuminate the way. Each scooter has a 400-lb weight capacity and a driving distance of 50 km.

When asked about the reason behind their gift, Margaret said, “If you love plants, what better way to give back than to support the Garden? It’s a place of endless inspiration that should be explored.”

Both active members of the Friends of the Garden (FOGs) volunteer group, Margaret and Charlie have been tireless supporters of UBC Botanical Garden for decades. Margaret’s contributions include acting as president for the FOGs; co-founding the popular Apple Festival; mapping and trail naming the Asian Garden; and assuming oversight of the Garden’s Hortline. For many years, Charlie, an avid gardener whose specialty is rhododendrons and magnolias, shared his expertise as the buyer of these species for the Shop in the Garden.

“Gardens are full of surprises and challenges, memories and heartbreaks,” said Charlie. “You learn a lot about life when you plant something. When you’ve done it right, there is joy in seeing that and sharing it with others.”