Scotland’s Garden Scheme 2019

February 11, 2019

Gallery Garden, by Montrose DD10 9LA, Angus and Dundee. Picture; T. Dobson

64 gardens opening for the first time

More than 500 private gardens are to open their gates for charity across Scotland this year with the positive link between gardening and health celebrated by Scotland’s Garden Scheme.

For the second year running it will be joining its sister organisation in England and Wales, the National Garden Scheme, to hold a Gardens & Health Week in the summer, giving community groups and schools free access to volunteer gardens to show how inspiring garden spaces can be.

During the year, 516 gardens will be open, including seven allotments, 14 community gardens, 34 villages and groups, 39 historic designed landscapes and four therapeutic gardens.

Children’s activities will be taking place in 47 gardens and 180 gardens will be serving homemade teas (with cream in a further 18).

Dumfries Station Garden, Dumfries Railway Station, Lovers Walk, Dumfries. Picture; Scotland's Garden Scheme — Dumfries Station Garden, Dumfries Railway Station, Lovers Walk, Dumfries. Picture; Scotland’s Garden Scheme

Spring and summer trails

Visitors can explore 15 gardens on spring and summer trails in Fife, and 26 gardens and woodlands for snowdrops and winter walks.

Included in the 64 gardens opening for the first time are:

Dumfries Station Garden, which is planted on both sides of a working train station by a thriving ‘station adopters’ community group
Fairnielaw in North Berwick with its mixed tree mini forest and contemporary garden rooms
Berridale Allotments and Gardens in Cathcart, a Glaswegian horticultural stalwart since before WW2
Allotment Association of Crieff, renowned to be the most scenic in Scotland
Ellisland Wild Garden next to the River Nith in Dumfriesshire and the former home of poet Robert Burns;
an enclosed tarmac garden at the Bravehound project at Erskine Hospital in Bishopton, which provides companion dogs to military veterans
Preston Hall Walled Garden in Midlothian, a beautiful example of an 18th century walled garden which the owners started to restore in 2011
Ardno and Strachur House on Loch Fyne with its walled garden, gorge and meadow.

Preston Hall Walled Garden, Pathhead. Picture; Scotland's Garden Scheme — Preston Hall Walled Garden, Pathhead. Picture; Scotland’s Garden Scheme

Cover garden in Midlothian

This year’s guidebook ‘cover garden’ is Whitburgh House Walled Garden in Pathhead, Midlothian, a contemporary garden with clipped foliage, perennials, grasses, annuals, fruit and veg, plus ponds and sculptures over 14 acres.

Terrill Dobson, National Organiser for Scotland’s Gardens Scheme said: “We gardeners share a secret – our gardens are like a very special friend, helping us with our health and wellbeing. When we’re stressed, they calm us.

“They get us out of the house when the winter darkness is tugging at us. And our garden can nourish us, literally, as you can grow so much in a small space.

“Fortunately, even if you are not a gardener, you can still enjoy many of the benefits by visiting them.

Cover star: Whitburgh House Walled Garden, Pathhead, Midlothian. Picture; Scotland’s Garden Scheme

Whitburgh House Walled Garden, Pathhead, Midlothian. Picture; Scotland’s Garden Scheme

‘Serenity of a beautiful garden’

“What a wonderful way to spend time, out in the fresh air, surrounded by the serenity of a beautiful garden.”

More than 250 charities will benefit from the funds raised through garden openings including Scotland’s Gardens Scheme’s own beneficiary charities, the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland, Maggie’s and Perennial.

It will also be offering a £5,000 bursary to a guest charity to help fund garden-based projects to improve physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

More than £1 million has been raised for charity over the last four years through Scotland’s Garden Scheme’s openings.