Summer Visit - 12 July 2017
Fyvie Castle Garden and Pitmedden Garden
It was an early start to our annual day out in Aberdeenshire.
The weather looked slightly ominous with overcast skies with a couple of wet roads en-route where a shower or two had passed through.
Looking up to the heavens we spied brightness and several blue bits in the direction we were heading so that cheered us.
The weather looked slightly ominous with overcast skies with a couple of wet roads en-route where a shower or two had passed through.
Looking up to the heavens we spied brightness and several blue bits in the direction we were heading so that cheered us.
Fyvie Castle Gardens
Our first stop was Fyvie Castle which has an 18th century walled garden containing Scottish fruits and vegetables with surrounding woodland walks, loch and parkland.
We arrived at Fyvie Castle to a very welcome cuppa and shortbread biscuit or two before walking down through the American Garden to the Walled Kitchen Garden
The grounds and adjoining Loch Fyvie were landscaped in the 19th century, following Victorian trends. The walled garden to the East of the Castle is currently a garden of Scottish cultivated fruits. There’s also evidence of two other walled gardens closer to the castle with one appearing on an estate plan of 1768.
National Trust Gardener, Stuart, took us around the garden giving us plenty of historic information along the way.
He told us what was previously within the garden grounds and how things had changed over years of private and then National Trust ownership.
This postcard shows the glasshouse conservatory which used to exist on the outside of the walled garden but sadly a decision had to be made by the The National Trust when they took over the gardens 1984 to remove it as it was in such a dilapidated state and was not viable to repair or reinstate. The photo next to the postcard shows part of the wall with the central buttress which the hothouses leaned against.
He told us what was previously within the garden grounds and how things had changed over years of private and then National Trust ownership.
This postcard shows the glasshouse conservatory which used to exist on the outside of the walled garden but sadly a decision had to be made by the The National Trust when they took over the gardens 1984 to remove it as it was in such a dilapidated state and was not viable to repair or reinstate. The photo next to the postcard shows part of the wall with the central buttress which the hothouses leaned against.
Stuart also passed around several historical photographs to illustrate his talk,
which certainly helped to bring to life everything that had been done in the garden in the past. |
We learned about the produce in the garden and also what plans the Fyvie Gardeners and the Trust had in store for the development of the gardens. Some of us left with a few punnets of lovely fruit which I’m sure was enjoyed at home later that day.
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After our stroll around the garden we walked back to the castle to our delicious and beautifully served lunch
which was enjoyed by everyone in the Racquet Court.
which was enjoyed by everyone in the Racquet Court.
Our thanks go to all the Fyvie Castle administration, gardening and catering staff who made our morning visit so memorable.
Pitmedden Gardens
Next on our programme was a 20 minute trip down the road to visit Pitmedden Garden which is a historic, managed landscaped garden surrounded by woodland and is considered to be one of the great formal gardens of Scotland.
It was founded in 1675 by Sir Alexander Seton and his wife Dame Margaret Lauder and was revived in the 1950s by the National Trust for Scotland who used plans based on similar gardens around the same era, as no records of Seton’s original gardens had survived.
It was founded in 1675 by Sir Alexander Seton and his wife Dame Margaret Lauder and was revived in the 1950s by the National Trust for Scotland who used plans based on similar gardens around the same era, as no records of Seton’s original gardens had survived.
The herbacious borders within the garden were quite spectacular and a wonderful forefront to the huge varieties of fruit
growing on every bit of wall space.
growing on every bit of wall space.
As well as chatting to us about all the wonderful things in the garden,
Susan also outlined the problem of blight that had been attacking some sections of the box hedging and how the gardeners
have been managing this by cutting away internal sections and applying ongoing spraying treatment.
Looking at the photos below, taken on the afternoon of our visit, it’s obvious all their hard work is paying off as the affected areas are beginning to regenerate nicely and the unaffected areas are receiving preventative care.
It’s good to know that we should be able to admire the 6 miles of clipped box hedging for many years to come.
We wish them all the very best in preserving and introducing new initiatives in the garden for us all to enjoy.
Susan also outlined the problem of blight that had been attacking some sections of the box hedging and how the gardeners
have been managing this by cutting away internal sections and applying ongoing spraying treatment.
Looking at the photos below, taken on the afternoon of our visit, it’s obvious all their hard work is paying off as the affected areas are beginning to regenerate nicely and the unaffected areas are receiving preventative care.
It’s good to know that we should be able to admire the 6 miles of clipped box hedging for many years to come.
We wish them all the very best in preserving and introducing new initiatives in the garden for us all to enjoy.
As we approached the gate to the newly planted orchard area, an intricate nest built by wrens was pointed out to us and we were also treated to the sight of two fledglings running along at the bottom of the garden wall.
We left them in peace to view the orchard and an opportunity was not to be missed
to sit on the bench outside the recently added produce storage building to rest weary feet..
We left them in peace to view the orchard and an opportunity was not to be missed
to sit on the bench outside the recently added produce storage building to rest weary feet..
Thank you Susan for a thoroughly interesting walk around the garden.
We all had a great time and admired the garden immensely.
We all had a great time and admired the garden immensely.
We finished off our afternoon with refreshments in the tea-room which was served to us by the lovely catering staff.
Some of us took had a look around the fascinating museum of farming, and having the obligatory browse around the little shop for souvenirs.
Some of us took had a look around the fascinating museum of farming, and having the obligatory browse around the little shop for souvenirs.
Our Members had a great time so our thanks to everyone involved in making it such a memorable day out.
We try to make our outings run as smoothly as possible and the staff at all the gardens do an exceptional job to make this happen.
Although we admit to ordering good weather
we can’t really take credit for the sunshine we were all treated to on the day ....
Some things are definitely well and truly out of our control !
We try to make our outings run as smoothly as possible and the staff at all the gardens do an exceptional job to make this happen.
Although we admit to ordering good weather
we can’t really take credit for the sunshine we were all treated to on the day ....
Some things are definitely well and truly out of our control !
Next Year
We've already got our thinking caps on for our outing next year with the possibility of venturing to Dundee, St Andrews or even Edinburgh with a potential stop on the way home for high tea/dinner.
We're also considering travelling by coach which would mean
we'd all be together, arrive at the same time
and generally relieve the stress on drivers not familiar with the route to the venue.
If any Members have thoughts on gardens they’d like us to visit as a group,
please do get in touch with any member of the Committee as soon as possible so we can look into whether it’s a feasible option.
Sorry............outings to the Gardens of Madeira, Italy or France
might prove to be a bigger bite of the cherry than we can handle.............................
We've already got our thinking caps on for our outing next year with the possibility of venturing to Dundee, St Andrews or even Edinburgh with a potential stop on the way home for high tea/dinner.
We're also considering travelling by coach which would mean
we'd all be together, arrive at the same time
and generally relieve the stress on drivers not familiar with the route to the venue.
If any Members have thoughts on gardens they’d like us to visit as a group,
please do get in touch with any member of the Committee as soon as possible so we can look into whether it’s a feasible option.
Sorry............outings to the Gardens of Madeira, Italy or France
might prove to be a bigger bite of the cherry than we can handle.............................