What's New

Which gardens are open for the new Fife spring garden trail?

Thursday 15 March, 2018

From flooded quarries to cottage gardens, vatican style gardens to wild woodlands. There is so much in store this April in Fife!

The braw lad, Mr Lowry the Chairman's whippet, in the snow

Thursday 15 March, 2018

It's early June and our chairman's dog, Mr Lowry looks ahead to his next garden visit to Dean Gardens, Edinburgh

A host of golden daffodils

Tuesday 13 March, 2018

Our selection of daffodil covered gardens to visit this spring. A pleasant walk among the daffodils followed by a home made cup of tea, did someone say heaven?

Where to go this Mother's Day?

Monday 5 March, 2018

Whether you're looking for a nice place to take your mother or searching for a place to make your mother's day that extra special, we've got something for you. Here are some lovely gardens open for charity this Mother's Day.

Growing Stories: Storytelling for all

Thursday 1 March, 2018

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme has teamed up with The Scottish International Storytelling Festival, to share the stories of our gardens. We will be co-hosting “Growing Stories”, fantastic storytelling events at our special gardens across Scotland in 2018.

Gardens open this weekend

Thursday 1 March, 2018

A list of which gardens are open this weekend despite the snowy conditions, please also see here for cancellations

National Nest box week

Friday 16 February, 2018

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme has teamed up with The Scottish International Storytelling Festival, to share the stories of our gardens. We will be co-hosting “Growing Stories”, fantastic storytelling events at our special gardens across Scotland in 2018.

Our historic districts

Thursday 8 February, 2018

Anyone who has flicked through our guidebook will notice that our district names don't quite tally up with Scotland's many counties...like many things in life there is method to the madness!

12 gardens open for the Fife Spring Trail 2018

Tuesday 6 February, 2018

12 wonderful gardens are open for the Fife Spring Trail between April and March. For more details and tickets...

New Years Resolutions - what to visit in 2018?

Friday 26 January, 2018

So we're a little late with our new years resolutions, but we hope you'll forgive us. Our new website went live on the 22nd and our 2018 guidebooks hit the shelves this month too, so it's been a little busy.

Queen's Nurses Development Programme award ceremony

Friday 26 January, 2018

Our National Organiser, Terrill Dobson attended the Queen's Nurses Development Programme award ceremony. The Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland were kind enough to write this little piece, looking over our special relationship.

Portrack, The Garden of Cosmic Speculation 2018 opening date

Thursday 11 January, 2018

We are delighted to be able to announce that The Garden of Cosmic Speculation will open on Sunday 6th May, 2018. Tickets will be released on Thursday 1st February, 2018. Details of how to purchase …

Scottish Snowdrop Festival 2018

Wednesday 10 January, 2018

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, Discover Scottish Gardens and VisitScotland work together to support the popular Scottish Snowdrop Festival...

Celebrating the Year of Young People 2018

Wednesday 10 January, 2018

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme is thrilled to be celebrating Visit Scotland's 'Year of Young People' in 2018. Here are just some of the gardens hosting children's activities...

Did someone say walkies?

Wednesday 10 January, 2018

200 unique gardens to visit, perfect for you and your favourite four legged friend.

A garden owner's musing on snowdrops

Tuesday 9 January, 2018

Helen Rushton, of Bruckhills Croft,

Through the Garden Gate - November

Tuesday 14 November, 2017

The Garden Gate. Well the clocks have changed and I have just returned from a walk, with four paws in tow, on a fine frosty morning taking time to enjoy the trees in their almost naked splendour ...

Autumnal delight - pumpkin bread recipe

Tuesday 7 November, 2017

This July we're showcasing a the perfect recipe for your Summer berries: Blackcurrant jellies

The 2018 opening of The Garden of Cosmic Speculation

Tuesday 10 October, 2017

We are delighted to be able to announce that The Garden of Cosmic Speculation will open on Sunday 6th May, 2018. Tickets will be released on Thursday 1st February, 2018. Details of how to purchase …

A message from our Sponsor

Friday 29 September, 2017

Delivering an out of the ordinary investment management service Investec Wealth & Investment (IW&I) is delighted to be fully supporting Scotland’s Gardens Scheme.

The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay visit Netherthird Community Garden

Friday 8 September, 2017

The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay helped residents and school children from an ex-mining town in Ayrshire celebrate the grass roots success of their popular, local community garden, during a very

East Lothian Garden Trail 2017

Monday 24 July, 2017

Running over the last week of June (28 June - 2 July), the East Lothian Garden Trail provides an opportunity to see twelve magnificent spacious gardens and well tended allotments in close …

Dinner party delicacies - Blackcurrant jellies

Saturday 15 July, 2017

This July we're showcasing a the perfect recipe for your Summer berries: Blackcurrant jellies

Through the Garden Gate in July

Sunday 2 July, 2017

Good Evening all, I trust this newsletter finds both you and your gardens in good health having survived the unseasonal ravages of desert heat in late May through into June; something, which was

Update from Mr Lowry

Wednesday 28 June, 2017

Well readers what a blistering hot spell that has been, I don’t know about you but I am glad it is over. I was knackered just hiding in the shade, lying on the cold paving, I even got a nice …

Queen's Nurses Promoting Health & Wellbeing in Scottish Communities

Tuesday 27 June, 2017

When a group of 20 outstanding community nurses met back in Fife in February for a week-long residential organised by the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland (QNIS), few of them would have

Mr Lowry's visit to Clayfolds, Kincardineshire, 25 June 2017

Tuesday 27 June, 2017

I love this time of year around mid summer; long days, nice early mornings - up with the lark shaking ‘The Team’ out of bed, for my early morning walk! Hee, hee, that keeps them on …

Meet the garden owner

Saturday 24 June, 2017

The Colinton gardens, Edinburgh threw open their garden gates on the 2nd July. These three gardens raised a fantastic sum, £2902, thanks to about 400 visitors! We caught up with Michael and …

Fife Garden Trail 2017

Saturday 24 June, 2017

Running over late June and early July, the Fife Garden Trail provides an opportunity to see nine privately owned gardens five of which have never or rarely admitted visitors before. It also …

Record Amount Raised for Charity in 2016

Monday 22 May, 2017

There seems to be a pattern emerging in Scotland of springs being cold and wet. After the disappointing start to our season in 2015 we fared little better in 2016. Our snowdrop openings were