Gàrraidhean Mòra na h-Alba/ Gardens of Scotland
Whether planting potatoes or cultivating herbaceous borders, the Scots have long been known as a nation of gardeners. In this series, green-fingered Murdo Macdonald visits some of the country’s most important designed-landscapes to reveal the fascinating story of Scotland’s gardening past.
Each programme explores a different garden, with Murdo picking out his favourite aspects of each and talking to the curators and gardeners who look after them today. He’ll learn about their design, plant-life, setting and history.
Murdo said: “Scotland is famed for its landscapes, for natural habitats of variety and great beauty. We also have an incredible history and culture of cultivation, of gardening and plant collecting.
“I’ve had a pretty varied career, from army officer to estate factor. I’ve worked across the UK and further afield but it’s only now that I’ve taken a step back from working full-time that I can indulge my hobbies – art and gardening.
“My own garden is my haven, there’s something very therapeutic about the solitary nature of gardening, the rhythm of it and the sights and sounds of nature.
“Gardening can feed you, heal you and educate. It also teaches you patience!
“Now is a fantastic time to start gardening given the background of what we’re all experiencing and the need to stay closer to home.
“With these gardens it’s the vision that’s gone into their creation that’s incredible and the continuing work that staff do to maintain them that surprises and delights.
“In essence these gardens are masterpieces and a testament to the skill and passion of those who look after them. They are all astonishing and when you walk through the gardens they inspire you to recreate some of what you see on a smaller scale at home.”
Four new episodes (5 to 8) start on Thursday, September 23 and they will also be available on the BBC iPlayer for 30 days afterwards:
Programme 5 – Dawyck Botanic Garden near Stobo, Scottish Borders
Murdo travels to near Stobo in the Scottish Borders to visit Dawyck Botanic Garden when the autumn colours are at their most vibrant.
Dawyck Botanic Garden is one of the regional gardens of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Its Cryptogamic Sanctuary is the world’s first reserve for mosses, liverworts, lichens and fungi.
Murdo speaks to a mycologist about the garden’s Cryptogamic Sanctuary and why fungi is important in the eco system and its various uses to produce medicines, chocolate, coffee and bread. It’s also fundamental for producing fizzy drinks, wine and cheese.
Roddy Maclean talks about an autumn favourite – the bramble, and Dr Mark Newman from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh tells viewers about how trees reproduce.
The programme also features a rare Katsura tree which smells like candy floss.
Quotes from presenter Murdo Macdonald:
“Dawyck’s a really interesting garden, somewhat out of the way yet it’s an oasis of horticultural genius. I was taken aback that someone has achieved what they did in this remote part of Scotland.
“There’s an incredible diversity of plants and shrubs and a beautiful landscape surrounding it.
“The Katsura tree was amazing, when you walk past it you can smell the sweetness and you wonder where it comes from. It sets your tastebuds tingling!”
Contributors:
Curator – Graham Stewart
Mycologist – Neville Kilkenny
Royal Botanic Garden press and marketing manager – Shauna Hay
Programme 6 – Ardkinglas, Loch Fyne, Argyll
Murdo visits Ardkinglas on the banks of Loch Fyne in Argyll. In the House Gardens he finds out about the model railway that used to run along the lochside, and wanders around the azaleas which are bursting with colour in the Ladies’ Garden.
He walks up to the Old Mill by the river, then explores the champion trees and renowned rhododendron collection in the Woodland Garden. He also finds out more about the fairy garden for children which is made up of lots of little houses next to the bottom of tree trunks, laid out in trail to follow, which tells the story of different fairy characters who have set up home there.
Roddy Maclean talks about the folklore associated with bluebells and Dr Mark Newman from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh talks about the process of hybridising rhododendrons.
Quotes from presenter Murdo Macdonald:
“The fairy garden attracts thousands of families each year so it’s become a destination in itself.
“Children can easily spend a day there and it’s a great way to get youngsters interested in the outdoors and gardening.
“The Ladies’ Garden with azaleas is also well worth seeing, in summer it’s stunning because it’s ablaze with colour.”
Contributors
Owner – David Sumsion
Estate manager – Jean Maskell
Programme 7 – Benmore Botanic Garden near Dunoon, Argyll
Murdo visits Benmore which is one of the regional gardens of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The entrance to the garden is very impressive with a 50m high Redwood Avenue, planted in 1863.
The garden has areas with samples from different parts of the world, including Tasmania, Bhutan, Japan and Chile. Its Victorian fernery, built by James Duncan, a wealthy sugar refiner who once owned Benmore, has a collection of over 70 rare and varied ferns from across the world.
Murdo visits the Victorian fernery, the Tasmanian Ridge and the Chilean Rainforest Glade where he plants a monkey puzzle tree.
Dr Mark Newman of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh tells us about the important role of botanic gardens in conservation and education.
Quotes from presenter Murdo Macdonald:
“Benmore is a dramatic garden in its terrain with amazing views and you could easily spend days walking around, just taking in what’s there.
“There’s a wildness to the garden that isn’t as apparent at some of the other more formal gardens which can almost make you feel as though you’re in a different country.
“I look forward to visiting from time to time to see how my monkey puzzle tree is getting on.”
Contributors:
Curator – Peter Baxter
Royal Botanic Garden press and marketing manager – Shauna Hay
Programme 8 – The Japanese Garden at Cowden, Dollar near Stirling
Murdo visits the Japanese Garden at Cowden near Stirling. He finds out about the two women who created the garden at the turn of the 20th century – Ella Christie, and Taki Handa.
Ella Christie is believed to have been the first western woman to meet the Dalai Lama, and when she returned from a visit from Japan she was so inspired by their gardens that she wanted to create her own at Cowden. She employed Taki Handa from Japan (it was very unusual for a female to work in garden design in Japan), to create this garden of Shã Raku En, ‘the place of pleasure and delight’.
The garden was badly vandalised in the 1960s, so Ella’s great, great niece tells Murdo what was involved in reconstructing the garden. He also learns more about the cultural significance of the Japanese design of the garden and the essential work that’s being carried out by volunteers and staff to maintain the beauty of the gardens. Part of their work involves creating a ripple effect in the gravel as though a stone has been dropped and raking the leaves from the pond to retain a clean reflection on the water.
Roddy Maclean tells us about the importance of moss and Dr Mark Newman of The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh explains why trees turn such beautiful colours in the autumn.
Quotes from presenter Murdo Macdonald:
“The Japanese Garden is beautiful. It’s a completely different approach to gardening because it’s highly formalised. It’s almost an attempt to create perfection with such a minute approach to everything, even plucking a single weed at a time.
“There’s a lovely circulatory walk around it and each time you see something different. It creates a feeling of Zen-like tranquility.
“There’s also a fantastic backstory to this garden because of the involvement of three very formidable ladies who made such a success of it.”
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