National Trust for Scotland Fyvie Castle Garden & Estate
Fyvie Castle, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, AB538JS
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) bought Fyvie Castle in 1984. At that point, nothing of the gardens remained, which meant a completely fresh start, making these relatively early years a great time for visitors to see the garden grow and mature.
The American Garden was the first area to be developed by the Trust, celebrating the links between the Forbes-Leith family (previous owners who made their fortune from the steel industry in America) and the NTS. Trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials mainly from North America thrive here and are complimented by a range of woodland plants from other parts of the world.
The Walled Garden of Scottish Fruits is a modern heritage kitchen garden covering two-acres and containing one of the most complete collections of Scottish fruit in the country. This garden was designed by Robert Grant, who was garden adviser of the NTS at the time and who won two Aberdeenshire Council awards for the garden.
Here, visitors can see Scottish varieties of apple, pear and plum trained in many ways, as well as soft fruits such as blackcurrants, raspberries, blackberries and hybrid berries. There’s an impressive range of vegetables grown using organic methods, and all produce is sold or used in the tea room. There is also a large herbaceous border, which is being re-designed and re-planted this spring, Dahlia borders and annual flowers throughout the vegetable beds.
Then there is the Rymers Haugh Woodland Garden, named after Thomas the Rymer, a prophet who placed a curse on the Castle in the 13th century. This garden contains mature copper beech and an impressive Cercidiphyllum Japonicum (katsura tree) as well as other trees, shrubs and woodland perennials.
Between Rymers Haugh and the impressive Fyvie Loch, a new woodland garden called ‘the shrubbery’ is being created, with a range of trees and shrubs to provide interest throughout the year.
Website: www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/fyvie-castle
Telephone: 01651 891266
Opening times: Fyvie Castle gardens are open dawn till dusk all year round
Admission costs: No formal charge to the gardens but visitors are encouraged to leave a donation
Garden of the Week is in association with Discover Scottish Gardens. For more information, advice and day-out ideas, visit discoverscottishgardens.org
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