Gardens in Moray Introduction

Transcription

1 Gardens in Moray Introduction The province of Moray, used to be known as The Rivera of the North due to its mild weather and the lowlands in the Laich of Moray are particularly fertile, although there are parts where the soil is quite light and sandy. All of this gives a great deal of variety of soil and plant conditions. There are gardens that are open on specified dates, through the Scotland s Garden Scheme, historic castle and public gardens that are open free of charge, although some of them are open on special dates or events with a small fee. Travelling from the west side of the province the first garden you would approach would be Brodie Castle, which is now owned and run by the National Trust of Scotland to whom the castle was entrusted in the 1970s. The 24 th Brodie of Brodie was a pioneer breeder of the modern garden daffodil and NTS is engaged in tracing and re-establishing his collection. There is a special Daffodil weekend each spring (refer to but there are lovely walks through tree lined policies to and around the pond. As well as daffodils in the spring there are several lovely rhododendrons. If there are little active people who need energy used up there is an adventure area at the rear of the castle. There is a nice café in the kitchen pantry. The Royal Burgh of Forres is very proud of its Grant Park which was bought for the people of Forres by Alexander Grant, the creator of the much loved Digestive biscuit. There are formal floral beds and a sunken garden, which are easily accessible. All the floral arrangements in

2 Forres are maintained by members of the community and the Forres in Bloom group. Entry is unrestricted but a donation made at the cairn is appreciated. Although the Grant Park is undoubtedly the crown, do not miss the FeeBees garden at the east car park of Grant Park. This area introduces young people to gardening and is maintained by the junior section of Forres in Bloom. A walk up to Nelson Tower, particularly in the afternoon, when the tower is open is also worthwhile. If you are in Forres between June and September you will be impressed by the floral arrangements and hanging baskets in the High Street but do not miss the planting along the Mosset burn. By prior arrangement you may have time to visit Lorraine Dingwall s small town garden in Pilmuir Road, Forres, IV36 2HL, through Scotland s Gardens scheme. This is a plantsman s garden with approximately 150 different snowdrops in spring, over 300 cultivars of hosta, an extensive collection of hardy geraniums and many other unusual plants. The garden is managed entirely without the use of chemicals or fertilisers and wild birds, toads and hedgehogs are encouraged to control slugs! Continuing eastwards, between Alves and Roseisle, again by prior arrangement you will find another garden under Scotland s Garden Scheme - Mitch and Colin Buss s garden. Here, the garden has been transformed from a dull, lifeless, uninteresting flat area into an exciting lively, imaginatively designed space, full of colour, motion and vibrancy. Elgin is the largest town in Moray and it is proud of its Biblical Garden. In a peaceful setting adjacent to Elgin Cathedral and it opened to the public in At the outset it was tended by trainees from Moray Council but is now looked after jointly by horticultural students from Moray College UHI, the Friends of the Biblical Garden and Moray Council. The gardens continue to develop and use the Bible as its reference point and displays of many the 110 plants mentioned in the scripture. Life size sculpture depict parable and stories from the Bible including The Good Shepherd, Moses receiving the 10 Commandments, the Prodigal Son and Samson in the Temple. Entry is free, but donations to the Friends of the Biblical Garden are welcome. Continuing east along the A96 you will arrive in Fochabers and its historic Gordon Castle. You will find a great deal of history around Gordon Castle at Fochabers and the Walled garden is a place of beauty and calm for all to enjoy. They also have a wooden children s play area. If you are travelling on the A95 between Grantown and Elgin, then Ballindalloch Castle Gardens on the River Avon (pronounced A an) are another must visit. Ballindalloch Castle is still owned and has been lived in by the same family for 23 generations and the spectacular gardens are open from spring to autumn with plenty to see in any season. The castle can also be visited where there is also a lovely café. Auchindoun near Dufftown on the A920, is a small secluded riverside garden which was begun in 2005, consists of two interconnected ponds, one formal and one informal and an abundance of herbaceous plants and shrubs, with several sitting areas from which to admire the garden and view. This is another garden open under the Scotland s Garden scheme and is open by arrangement between June and August. Logie Gardens, Dunphail can be found just off the A940, near Randolf s Leap and is under the care and supervision of Panny Laing. The large area of vegetables and annuals was replaced in the 1990s by less formal trees and shrubs. In 2009 the burn was opened and the woodland

3 planting was extended into a larger area allowing for the introduction of many interesting and unusual plants. Every year new plants are sourced and trialled in the garden. If and when they prove their worth many of them are then propagated for sale in the Farm & Garden Shop If it is more gardening shopping you are looking for, then there is a garden centre at each end of the region with MacKenzie and Cruickshanks in Forres and Christies in Fochabers. Both have a wide choice of plants and ancillary garden items and excellent café/restaurants. Location Brodie Castle, Brodie, Forres IV36 2TE Grant Park, Forres Directions and address North side of A96 Approx Distance in time and miles from previous venue Miles 5 miles from Forres And 6 miles from Nairn Travel Time Forres 10 minutes Nairn 15 minutes Points of Interest Now owned and run by the National Trust of Scotland since 1970s. The 24 th Brodie of Brodie was a pioneer breeder of the modern garden daffodil and NTS is engaged in tracing and re-establishing his collection. There is a special Daffodil weekend each spring (refer to and there are lovely walks through tree lined policies to and around the pond. As well as daffodils in the spring, there are several lovely rhododendrons. If there are little active people who need to burn some energy, then there is an adventure area at the rear of the castle. There is also a lovely café in the kitchen pantry. A96 Brodie Castle 5 miles The Royal Burgh of Forres is very proud of its Grant Park. There are formal floral beds and a sunken garden, which are easily accessible. All the floral arrangements in Forres is maintained by members of the community and the Forres in Bloom group. Entry is unrestricted but a donation made at the cairn is appreciated. Although the Grant Park is undoubtedly the crown, do not miss the FeeBees garden at the east car park of Grant Park. This area introduces young people to gardening and maintained by the junior section of Forres in Bloom. A walk up to Nelson Tower, particularly in the afternoon, when the tower is open is also worthwhile. If you are in Forres between June and September you will be impressed by the floral arrangements and hanging baskets in the High Street and do not miss the planting along the Mosset burn! The Bents, 10 Pilmuir Road West, Forres, IV36 2HL Take Pilmuir Road, from the town centre, pass Pilmuir School and turn left. Brodie Castle 5 miles Town Centre 2 miles Travel time 5 minutes Walk from Grant Park 30 minutes By prior arrangement you may have time to visit Lorraine Dingwall s small town garden in Pilmuir Road, Forres, IV36 2HL, through Scotland s Gardens scheme. This is a plantsman s garden with approximately 150 different snowdrops in spring, over 300 cultivars of hosta, an extensive collection of hardy geraniums and many other unusual plants. The garden is managed entirely without the use of

4 Mitch and Colin Buss, Bruntlands Bungalow Alves, Elgin IV30 8UZ Biblical garden, King Street, Elgin Gordon Castle Fochabers No 10 Pilmuir Road West on right hand side of road North side of Elgin Cathedral North side of High Street, Fochabers A96 to Alves, into Burghead Road, continue through village, past old church and through cross road and garden on left A96 to Fochabers chemicals or fertilisers and wild birds, toads and hedgehogs are encouraged to control slugs! Between Alves and Roseisle, again by prior arrangement you will find another garden under Scotland s Garden Scheme, Mitch and Colin Buss s garden. Here the garden has transformed a dull, lifeless, uninteresting flat area into an exciting lively, imaginatively designed space, full of colour, motion and vibrancy. The Biblical Garden is in a peaceful setting adjacent to Elgin Cathedral and was opened to the public in At the outset it was tended by trainees from Moray Council but it is now looked after jointly by horticultural students from Moray College UHI, the Friends of the Biblical Garden and Moray Council. The gardens continue to develop and use the Bible as its reference point and display many of the 110 plants mentioned in the scriptures. Life size sculptures depict parable and stories from the Bible including The Good Shepherd, Moses receiving the 10 Commandments, the Prodigal Son and Samson in the Temple. Entry is free but donations to the Friends of the Biblical Garden are welcome. Continuing east along the A96 you will come to Fochabers and its historic Gordon Castle. You will find a great deal of history around Gordon Castle at Fochabers and the Walled garden is a place of beauty and calm for all to enjoy. Ballindalloch Castle Gardens Auchindoun Dufftown AB55 4DY Adjacent to A95 Adjacent to A920 If you are travelling on the A95 between Grantown and Elgin, then Ballindalloch Castle Gardens on the River Avon (pronounced A an) are another must visit. Ballindalloch Castle is still owned and has been lived in by the same family for 23 generations. The spectacular gardens are open from spring to autumn with plenty to see in any season. The castle can also be visited and where there is a lovely café. Auchindoun near Dufftown on the A920, is a small secluded riverside garden which was formed in 2005, consists of two interconnected ponds, one formal and one informal and an abundance of herbaceous plants and shrubs, with several sitting areas from which to admire the garden and view. This is another garden open under the Scotland s Garden scheme and is open by arrangement between June and August.

5 Logie Gardens Dunphail IV36 2QN Logie Gardens, Dunphail can be found just off the A940, near Randolf s Leap and is under the care and supervision of Panny Laing. The large area of vegetables and annuals which was replaced in the 1990s by less formal trees and shrubs. In 2009 the burn was opened and the woodland planting was extended into a larger area allowing for the introduction of many interesting and unusual plants. Every year new plants are sourced and trialled in the garden. If and when they prove their worth many of them are then propagated for sale in the Farm & Garden Shop If it is more gardening shopping you are looking for then there is a centre at each end of the region with MacKenzie and Cruickshanks in Forres and Christies in Fochabers. Both have a wide choice of plants and ancillary garden items and excellent café/restaurants