Back to the future!
Novel productive garden under way at famous Scottish castle venue
Abold plan to create a cutting-edge productive garden is currently being realised in the walled garden at Culzean Castle, on the South Ayrshire coast.
The two-year project will see features, such as mixed orchards of fruit trees, a nuttery, a brewing and herb garden and a small tea plantation, fill the north walled garden. It has largely been underutilised since the 1960s, when the National Trust for Scotland, (NTS) took over the historic clifftop property.
The aim is to showcase a wide range of horticultural techniques, both historic and contemporary, improve seasonal interest, create new plantings and grow produce that can be used across the property. “Culzean has never been out of gardening,” said head gardener Iain Govan,” We’re just at the latest phase to keep the garden innovative and fresh.”
Five large, brick-edged beds have been created in the old plant sales area, to nurture heritage and modern veg varieties. Noted onion variety ‘Ailsa Craig’ was bred by one of the gardeners working at Culzean in the 1870s. Fruit such as peaches, nectarines and apricots were also grown at Culzean as early as 1730, and three new orchards on areas currently laid to lawn will showcase hardy fruit varieties underplanted with wild flowers, with cubes of yew adding formal, geometric notes. A nuttery, containing hazelnut varieties will feature on a fourth area of the quadrant.
The brewing and herb garden further extends the productive theme, with archways made to resemble whisky barrel staves. The venue also hopes to develop its own tea brand.
Other measures in the walled garden, include new herbaceous
borders to give seasonal, year-round colour, as well as full restoration of the famous double herbaceous borders, which have been a popular attraction for many decades.
The majestic castellated building was created by renowned Scottish architect Robert Adam for the chief of the Kennedy clan, the Marquess of Ailsa, in 1792. The walled garden, which dates from 1782, is located about a mile inland from the main castle in the 660-acre grounds and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. l Visit www.nts.org.uk/culzean.