ETERNAL BEAUTY Crathes near Banchory is a garden for all seasons
From bright summer days to dark winter nights, the gardens at Crathes Castle near Banchory are magnificent all year round, says Antoinette Galbraith
James Hannaford admits that on taking up the post of head gardener at Crathes Castle in October 2017 he was well acquainted with the famous walled garden and its vibrant, richly planted summer borders, but was far less familiar with its winter landscape. He was in for a delightful surprise – stripped bare of leaves and greenery, the estate revealed itself in all its glory. ‘The walled garden is equally interesting in the winter,’ he says. ‘You can really see the bones of the structure, the shapes and how they come together.’
James was delighted by the layout of the eight garden rooms at Crathes Castle which make up an historic terraced garden, and are divided by ancient yew hedges and punctuated by topiary. Clipped plants like the mushroom-shaped Portuguese laurel, box hedging and the varying heights and forms of the mature trees and shrubs take on an exciting new dimension when covered in snow and frost. Structures like the 18th century ‘doocote’, or dovecote, flanked by corkscrew hazel – Corlyus avellana contorta – stand out, as does the newly restored fountain and the intricate wrought iron entrance gate to the walled garden.
Crathes Castle sits on the side of a gentle slope above the River Dee, overlooking the Grampians in Aberdeenshire, and is surrounded by woodlands. Although there has been a garden here since the Burnett family took possession over 400 years ago, the present design is the result of an inspired partnership between Sir James Burnett of Leys, 13th Laird of Crathes and his wife Sybil. They lived here from their marriage in 1926 until 1951 when the castle and 500 acres were gifted to the National Trust for Scotland.
While Sir James planted a framework of arboretums, Lady Burnett combined her knowledge of plants and design skills to replace the formal Victorian garden with a classical layout influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement that continues to resonate today.
Formerly first gardener at Inverewe in Ross and Cromarty – which is also a NTS garden – James is the latest in a long line of talented NTS gardeners to manage this garden. Arriving in late autumn, he had the opportunity to ‘get out from behind
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Stripped bare of leaves and greenery, the estate revealed itself in all its glory
my desk and work alongside the team’ putting the double herbaceous borders, the white border and the Red and Golden Garden to bed for the winter and making plans. ‘With a garden of this size and scale you need time to think and plan ahead,’ he says. ‘The design is iconic but there is the need to keep it fresh by pruning and propagating.’
In the lower garden he learnt about the ‘naturally fantastic, incredibly fertile soil, added to since the vegetable growing days’. Here the traditional cruciform layout of a perimeter path with internal divisions protects from the east winds that blow in from Siberia.
With fewer visitors, winter is the time to focus on landscaping, ongoing maintenance and repairs. James explains that many highlights are found in the surrounding woodlands. ‘In addition to the more specific arboretums there is a large collection of ornamental trees and shrubs with many national and regional champions,’ he says. Time is also spent in the Victorian glasshouses which are home to striking collections of Pelargonium, Cyclamen, Cineraria and early displays of Narcissus, Hyacinths and Amarylis.
As winter gathers momentum flowering plants – many fragrant – and bulbs emerge in a series of surprises. Lady Burnett’s collection included an astonishing collection of 79 varieties of winter-flowering viburnum, ranging from pale pink Viburnum × bodnantense Dawn to Viburnum tinus and red-berried Viburnum betulifolium. She also planted fragrant honeysuckle, winter-flowering Lonicera purpusii in the four squares and upper pool garden.
Bulbs include early flowering daffodils, snowdrops and, especially exciting, ‘a massed collection of Leucojum vernum,’ the tall, gracious snowflakes that spread in the fertile soil.
Christmas roses and other hellebores are also prolific.
James is grateful for the team – including the volunteers – at Crathes who continue to be inspired by the years of ‘passionate gardening that have come before them. Every generation of gardeners has had a big drive and commitment and this team is always willing to do more than asked’.
The entire team are enthused by having the chance to push the boundaries, to experiment with new varieties of plants, and retain the sense of excitement for which Crathes is renowned. ‘The garden is an inspiration every day. It’s always in my mind, even when I am not there. I am always wondering how I can improve it without taking away from the essence of the scheme.’
The garden is an inspiration every day. It’s always in my mind