Call to revive Kilmory Gardens before 200th anniversary year
Calls are being made to revive the “depressingly derelict” Kilmory Gardens at Argyll and Bute Council headquarters in Lochgilphead.
A local tourism leader and keen gardener has highlighted the botanical importance of Kilmory Gardens as they approach their 200-year anniversary.
The historic gardens have links with Kew Gardens in London and hopes are high for a working party or grant funds to help bring Kilmory back to its former glory.
Victoria Winters, a director of Heart of Argyll Tourism Alliance, is also secretary of the Friends of Crarae.
She revisited Kilmory recently and shared a series of photographs on the Heart of Argyll Facebook page, describing them as “hauntingly beautiful, while depressingly derelict”.
Victoria said: “After discovering the secret gardens beside Argyll and Bute Council offices at Kilmory in the autumn a few years ago, I vowed to return one spring.
“Sunday April 20 was the perfect day for it. The rhododendrons were magnificent, but sadly the gardens have been all but abandoned.”
Kilmory Woodland Park and Gardens was a public space that many held dear, she said. The area was well used during lockdown.
Now Victoria is writing to Kew Gardens to investigate an opportunity for a working party or grant funds about
Kilmory Gardens have been allowed to grow wild in recent years. for a makeover that could involve the community.
Speaking the historical importance of Kilmory, she added: “These gardens were redeveloped in 1830 by Sir William Hooker, the botanist, who became the first director of Kew Gardens.
“It apparently boasted plants from all countries of the world including over 100 species of rhododendrons and included alpines and ferns.
“Some of these plants were also the source for specimens at Kew, as he took cuttings.
“It will be the garden’s 200th anniversary in six years’ time. I do wonder if there is potential to revive and develop this asset for the folk of Lochgilphead and future visitors?”
She added: “Some of the trees are truly enormous. Champions of their time.”
Argyll and Bute Council, which owns the gardens, says it is not in a position to maintain them.
Victoria pointed out that Crarae Gardens, Minard, are run by a team of 10 volunteers.
The council has been forced to cut many services due to tough financial times. Amenity services, departments, have been hit.
A spokeswoman for the council said: ““We would love to be able to do everything our communities want us to do but sadly, year-on-year budget cuts mean we are simply unable to.
“Each year, we maintain 32.4 million square metres of grass, looking after sports pitches, roadside verges and other grounds maintenance.
“We undertake some basic maintenance within Kilmory walled garden and the grass around the castle.”
Meanwhile, another green space in Lochgilphead has fallen into disrepair.
Blarbuie Woodlands has sadly been hit by vandals. One local person said the site of a wooden octagon has been littered with empty drinks bottles and cans.
The dog walker said: “Kids have ripped up a bench and thrown it over the side. They have kicked out wood and glass panels. There’s litter everywhere. It seems to have got worse over the last few years.” like all