BRITAIN’S GOT GARDENS
The pinetum at Ardkinglas is a magical winter kingdom of towering conifers
In the depths of winter, coniferous woodland gardens – known as ‘pinetums’ – can come into their own. Sparkling with silver frost or dusted with snow, their firs, cedars and spruces look like the trees on a Christmas cake.
A pinetum is an arboretum consisting mainly of conifers. Despite the name – which stems from the Latin for ‘grove of pines’ – a pinetum will often contain more than just pine trees.
Many were planted by the Victorians and they are truly magical at this time of year: in snow or frost, they become magnificent winter wonderlands.
One of the best to visit is Ardkinglas in Argyll, Scotland. Situated on the shore of Loch Fyne, surrounded by mountains and forest, the estate encompasses 4,800 hectares. The 25-acre woodland garden, The Pinetum, dates back to 1875. Many of the garden’s prize conifers were brought back by 19th-centur y plant hunters and have grown into giants thanks to the growing conditions. As well as a micro and macro climate, the trees enjoy good soil, high rainfall and long hours of daylight in summer.
Tree huggers will need to link hands to get their arms around the trunks of Ardkinglas’s biggest conifers. The 140-year-old silver fir (Abies alba) – believed to be the “mightiest conifer in Europe” – has an impressive 10-metre gir th.
Also, the champion grand fir, Abies grandis, is one of the tallest trees in Britain, standing at a magnificent 65m.
Other giants include
Patagonian cypress, western red cedar and mountain hemlock. The balsam scent of the conifers hangs on the air and in Januar y mingles with the liquorice per fume of bright yellow witch hazel flowers. Come February, the lilac flowers of Rhododendron ‘Praecox’ burst into bloom.
Another boon of visiting a pinetum is the wildlife the conifers attract. At Ardkinglas, look out for red and roe deer, pine mar tens and meatball-sized goldcrests flying past.
The stars, though, are the large population of resident red squirrels. Look up and you might see a russet face staring down at you from the branches of the towering trees.
● Ardkinglas, Cairndow PA26 8BH; ardkinglas.com; 01499 600261