Gardens
Meet the couple leaving a lasting legacy for a rare tree species on Arran
A couple with a passion for the rare Arran Whitebeam has left a legacy for the island through their work to help save the native tree species from extinction. Henry Murdo who has lived on Arran since 1968 and Margo McLellan, a native Arranach, have been working with the National Trust for Scotland to share…
Read MoreLife With St Andrew Botanic Gardens: ‘The answers to society’s biggest challenges all involve a different relationship with plants’
Harry Watkins, director of St Andrew Botanic Gardens, on growing up with gardeners as a child, experimenting with new ideas and how what we thought we knew about nature is being challenged. I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, my mum is a great gardener, and her passion has been a massive influence on how I…
Read MoreHamish Martin: ‘Known as the tree of knowledge, hazel was one of the first trees to colonise these lands on the retreat of the ice age’
Gardening columnist Hamish Martin delves into the history of the hazel tree this month and explores how it became entrenched in our ancient history, beliefs and customs. Why choose Hazel for the month of January when you can harvest the leaves in spring for medicine and the nuts in autumn for food. It isn’t…
Read MoreHamish Martin: ‘There is nothing more spiritually uplifting than walking within a Scots Pine wood in December’
This month we are delighted to welcome Scottish Field’s newest columnist, Perthshire-based herbologist Hamish Martin. A lecturer on herbs at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, forager and nature lover Hamish will be sharing his knowledge and love of plants in a new monthly column. This month he shines the spotlight on Scots Pine. …
Read MoreNew Reekie: Visitors gather at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden for whiff of world’s smelliest corpse flower
Thousands of horticulture enthusiasts are set to gather at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden to catch a whiff of a rare smelly plant known as the corpse flower. The titan arum plant, said to be the ‘world’s smelliest’ burst into bloom on Wednesday night and will emit its smell of rotting flesh for several days. The…
Read MoreScone Palace Garden Fair returns for third year
Sponsored Content | After the resounding success of last year’s event, the Scone Palace Garden Fair is back for its third consecutive year. Set against the majestic backdrop of the historic Scone Palace, the fair will take place on 31 May and 1 June. This year, the Scone Palace Garden Fair continues its tradition of…
Read MoreExtremely rare moss rediscovered near Edinburgh
An extremely rare moss has been rediscovered near Edinburgh, having not been found anywhere else in the UK since 1987. Round-leaved bryum has been found at Threipmuir Reservoir near Balerno, Edinburgh, thanks to a collaboration between NatureScot and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Scientists have been rewarded after a 13-year wait to see one of Scotland’s…
Read MoreRare rhododendron planted before WW1 discovered in Argyll garden
A rare rhododendron planted before WW1 has been discovered at a coastal garden in Argyll – and is thought to be one of the largest in the UK. The Rhododendron arboretum subsp. Zeylanicum was found at Arduaine, a 20-acre coastal garden in Argyll overlooking the Sound of Jura. The garden was created in 1898 by tea…
Read MoreTop 10 National Trust for Scotland gardens to visit
We take a look at some of the best National Trust for Scotland gardens to visit. Arduaine Garden, Oban For those who love rhododendrons, this garden is for you. Created in 1898, Arduaine Garden nurtures plants from all across the world, and does so to this day thanks to the help of both…
Read MoreHidden gem: Tom Williamson on transforming his garden into a magical green space
Tucked away behind a 1950s semi detached house in Bonnybridge lies Tom Williamson’s hidden garden. Over the last 12 years 67-year-old Tom has transformed the space around his ex-council house into a magical garden packed with 600 different plants across three ‘rooms’. A traditional garden sits at the front of the house with a container…
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