The 5 best gardens in Scotland to visit this Spring

Us Scots are a nation of gardeners. But whether you’re green-fingered or just enjoy smelling the roses, there is no doubt we have some of the best gardens in the country. From peaceful Perthshire’s Branklyn Gardens, to the grand splendour of Culzean Castle, you’ll find gardens of every kind. Here’s our pick of the best…

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Hamish Martin: ‘Nettle is fundamental to these lands’

This month gardening columnist Hamish Martin explains why nettle is so important to these lands.   There is a visible excitement within me when the first nettles start to appear as they always fill my heart with joy, usually indicating that we have definitely arrived in Spring and that I can start to feed my body with the…

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Hamish Martin: ‘Ground Elder is a staple food source in our family – and it has fabulous benefits for wildlife’

This month gardening columnist Hamish Martin explains why seeing the shoots of Ground Elder unfurl is a spring delight, as he explores the many uses of this versatile plant.    The first signs of ground elder appearing in early March, may put a chill in some gardeners hearts but for this gardener, it’s a quiet internal rejoicing that…

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Hamish Martin: ‘I have always been grateful for cleavers, it’s the best at getting rid of the nasties and supporting the immune system’

This month gardening columnist Hamish Martin explains the healing properties of cleavers, or sticky willie as most of us know them, and why we should recognise them as a friend.    February seems like an odd month to look for cleavers, or sticky willie as commonly called due to the plant’s sticky tendencies, as it ‘cleaves’…

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Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year revealed

A traditional Victorian home in Lesmahagow has been crowded the winner of Scotland’s Christmas Home of the Year 2024. Interior designers Anna Campbell-Jones, Banjo Beale and architect Danny Campbell judged five festive homes during the hour-long Christmas special on BBC One Scotland before crowning the champion. Festive Farmhouse, in South Lanarkshire, is home to Angela…

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Scottish castle visited by Robert Burns in line for £2 million restoration after being sold to new owner

A historic Scottish castle visited by Robert Burns could be in line for a major restoration after being sold to a new owner. Baltersan Castle is thought to have inspired architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh, was visited by poets Robert Burns and John Keats, and a restoration plan was even pitched to the multi-millionaire investors on…

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Hamish 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…

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Hamish 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.  …

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