Home Culture Edinburgh plant nurseries get in on the Festival act

Edinburgh plant nurseries get in on the Festival act

August 14, 2013 7:09 am

Two Scottish nurseries offer a new experience for gardeners around the Edinburgh festival season

Two nurseries, who are based just a short distance from central Edinburgh, have joined forces to host events in August for local people and visitors to offer a new experience as an alternative Fringe event.

East Lothian based Macplants and Midlothian based Damhead Nurseries are the hosts, in conjunction with the British Plant Nursery Guide, to offer something new giving visitors a chance to take a break from the chaos of central Edinburgh and discover some of the outlying areas of the city.

Plant expert Gavin McNaughton, owner of Macplants, will be giving behind the scene tours of his family run nursery, followed by an interesting talk to share his knowledge and inspire people to discover new plants. The specialist nursery is known for Meconopsis (Himalayan Poppies) and Gentians but they also grow a huge range of perennials, grasses, ferns and alpines making them one of the leading growers in the Scotland. Gavin, who has a PhD in Biochemistry, will be giving a talk on “Perennials for late summer colour and interest in the garden’. There is a small charge for this event and advance booking recommended. Teas and cakes included. Meet at the nursery at 2pm.

Sue Gray of Damhead Nursery, who has an interest in art and design, has invited several leading artists to contribute to her sculpture exhibition. Sue trained as a Landscape Architect and is developing the nursery to offer a range of good garden plants and culinary herbs plus she is creating a mini farm shop selling local vegetables and other produce. On Friday 31^st August Sue hosts a special preview evening that includes wine tasting in conjunction with the prestigious Aberfeldy based wine specialist ‘The House of Menzies’.

Macplants events are between 16^th-19^th August.

Damhead Nursery is open during the festival however the exhibition is a post festival event from Friday 31^st August to Sunday 1^st September. Both nurseries are just a short drive from Edinburgh and can also be reached by public transport so making them very accessible – so anyone can come along.

Contact the nurseries for full details or visit www.britishplantnurseryguide.co.uk for more information.

Damhead Nursery – Sue Gray – Tel 0131 4454698 email – sueg@damheadnursery.co.uk

Damhead Farm, Lothianburn, Mid Lothian, EH10 7DZ

Macplants – Gavin McNaughton – Tel 01875 341179 email –sales@macplants.co.uk

Berrybank Nursery
5 Boggs Holdings
Pencaitland
East Lothian
EH34 5BA