Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife has given her support to St Andrews Botanic Garden friends’ petition. The petition which closed today has attracted over 4000 supporters.The lease of St Andrews Botanic Garden is up for renewal in September 2013 and the garden is now under threat of closure. Fife Council, who currently lease the site from St Andrews University and provide funding to run the garden, will be significantly reducing the funding therefore other arrangements will have to be sought to save it from closure.A botanic garden in Fife which is 124 years old is under threat of closure. The council said it will need to reduce its funding from £300,000 a year to half that sum over the next two years.The Mid Scotland & Fife MSP has written to Ronnie Hinds, Chief Executive of Fife Council and Professor Louise Richards, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, St Andrews University. Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife said: “I was very pleased to give my support to St Andrews Botanic Garden friends’ petition. “We all know how difficult funding currently is for many organisations, Fife Council is having to find savings of £5.9m and is proposing a 50% cut in funding for St Andrews Botanic Garden. “The threat has clearly generated a lot of additional interest in the garden with the petition attracting over 4000 supporters. It would be a real travesty if the garden was to close. “The friends of St Andrews Botanic Garden are to be congratulated on their campaign and I believe the success of the petition has also generated a very positive response from members of the public as well as developing additional interest and publicity for the in garden which has the potential to help bring in additional income in the future. “The St Andrews Botanic Garden has proved to be a great attraction for visitors and a valued place for local people and school groups to visit. The garden has been described as a 'hidden gem' of Scotland and it is vital that a positive way forward can be found.”