A northerly coastal plantsman’s retreat, impressive gardens at one of Scotland’s most famous castles, a bee-friendly horticultural haven and an enchanting glenside water garden are all opening for the first time to visitors in 2015 for the Scotland’s Gardens programme.

They are joined by 58 other new gardens*, of all different shapes, sizes and horticultural interest, opening to the public for the charity across Scotland, along with over 530 gardens that have opened their garden gates in previous years. Walled kitchen gardens, community growing projects, seaside plots, grand Scottish estates as well as urban and countryside gardens will be preparing to ‘wow’ visitors, from the Border country right up to the Highlands and Islands.

The 2015 Scotland’s Gardens programme includes:

• Over 30 gardens opening for the Scottish Snowdrop Festival during February and March.
• The season then moves up a gear in April with a host of properties boasting spectacular spring flower displays. Spring comes slightly later in Scotland so gives southern visitors a second chance to see early season blooms.
• Two new garden trails in May/June across Angus and Fife, and around the village of Humbie, which nestles into the Lammermuir Hills in East Lothian.
• Green-fingered visitors to Orkney during June/July are in for a treat with three new garden trails showcasing 17 amazing gardens on this northerly isle, where gardening against the odds is the norm.
• Autumn Gathering event in Stirling on 1 October with three first class speakers

“The gardens of Scotland are incredibly diverse as the landscape and climate differs dramatically from other parts of the UK and so our programme offers a real treat for garden lovers, no matter where you live,” said Paddy Scott, Chief Executive Officer of Scotland’s Gardens.

City homes, large country houses, towering castles, several villages and even remote rural crofts all open their garden gates to visitors to raise money for the Scotland’s Gardens charity. A team of dedicated volunteers helps man the tea urns, delivers leaflets, scouts new sites and helps garden owners make the most of their opening days.

Scotland’s Gardens, formerly known as Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, raises money for other worthy charities by facilitating the opening of large and small gardens of horticultural interest throughout Scotland to the public. Most are privately owned and are normally inaccessible to the public at other times.

Visitors can plan their days out to participating gardens by clicking ontowww.scotlandsgardens.org.  Click on which area you’d like to visit and details of all gardens opening locally will be displayed, with opening hours, online map and key details. Garden highlights can also be found on Twitter @ScotGardens and on Facebook ScotlandsGardens.  As well as on the website, garden listings can be found in the Scotland’s Gardens 2015 Guidebook, on sale in major bookshops, at tourist attractions, garden centres etc and online via www.scotlandsgardens.org.
All of the gardens have to be of horticultural interest and meet a certain standard to participate in Scotland’s Gardens programme and this is carefully monitored by the charity’s team of 200 volunteers.

In the last 3 years, over £1 million has been raised for charity by Scotland’s Gardens. Forty per cent of funds go to charities nominated by each garden owner with the net remainder being donated to Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres, the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland, The Gardens Fund of the National Trust for Scotland and Perennial.

ENDS

For further media information please contact:

• Emma Mason on emma@emmamasonpr.co.uk or 07762 117433, @emmamasonpr on Twitter or on Facebook at Emma Mason PR.  High res images and logos are available.
• Paddy Scott on ps@scotlandsgardens.org or 0131 226 3714

*Top 10 new openings for 2015

1. Glamis Castle, Angus– Walled Garden, formerly the kitchen garden, has recently undergone major development with new flower beds and a spectacular fountain. Also Italian Garden, Pinetum and parkland.
2. Fasnacloich, Argyll– South-facing 15 acre woodland garden sloping down to a loch with extensive structural water features.
3. Mucklejocks, Orkney – One of five seaside gardens opening in the village of Herston, on the beach with good coastal planting in cottage garden style.
4. Schoolquoy, Orkney – Opening alongside five other fine Orcadian gardens during July, wide selection of shrubs in garden rooms. Good summer bedding.
5. St Mary’s Farm, Fife – Small courtyard garden with formal pool, wild pond area and 2 acres of woodland
6. Kamares, Glasgow– Owned by an artist who uses the garden as an alternative canvas. Pond, acer collection, well-established mixed shrub and herbaceous borders and a living sculptural arbour.
7. Glenlivet, Kirkcudbright – New town garden developed from scratch over past 7 years. Remarkably mature appearance packed with colour. Two ponds connected by rill. Overlooks the River Dee.
8. The Steading, Perth & Kinross– Garden and wild ponds, wooded walk along the Lunan Burn and wildflower meadow with cowslips and wild orchids.
9. 2 Durnamuch, Wester Ross – Coastal plantsman’s garden with plants collected from across the world inc South Africa & the Mediterranean.
10. Old Allangrange, nr Inverness– Formal(ish) garden planted for wildlife with sculpted hedges that play with perspective and to block or expose views.