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A view of the Golden Garden area at Crathes Castle, featuring a square of lawn surrounded by well-established conifers and shrubs. The castle can be seen in the background, with a white flag flying.
26 Sept 2022

Crathes Garden blog #17: A passion for plants

Our expert garden guide considers the challenges of identifying plants in a richly diverse garden.

Looking towards Culzean Castle, with the Fountain Court garden in the foreground.
2 Sept 2022

The PLANTS project: inventory at Culzean

The scale of the 260-hectare estate at Culzean Castle was a daunting prospect, as the PLANTS project West team set out in July to start our plant inventory.

Butterflies are almost silhouetted against a bright blue sky as they perch on the white cone-like flowers of a buddleia plant.
31 Aug 2022

Crathes Garden blog #16: Home and away

Our expert garden guide shares some highlights from her holiday as she considers the importance of garden designers to the ever-evolving garden at Crathes Castle.

Looking from above at a close-up of the upper parterre in Pitmedden Garden. A manicured hedge encloses a designed garden space filled with plants and flowers. A winding pathway of grass cuts through the middle.
30 Aug 2022

Of parterre importance at Pitmedden Garden

Hear how the stunning new parterre at Pitmedden is transforming the way we think about and care for our gardens.

Looking through the opening of an old stone grotto towards a tree growing in the middle of a gravel area. It has a very wide trunk, apparently made up of lots of smaller trunks. The main canopy of the tree can't really be seen.
26 Aug 2022

Plant of the month: Thujopsis dolabrata

Our PLANTS team continue their blog series with a look at a very special tree at Culzean.

A view across the walled garden of Inverewe Garden. The dark shapes of mountains loom in the distance, and in the garden visitors walk along the pathways.
19 Aug 2022

From interview to Inverewe: 100 days of PLANTS

Our first update and behind-the-scenes look from the PLANTS Project Manager, Dr Colin McDowall.

Wooden ceiling beams are covered in painted decorations of kings and queens, heraldic symbols and animal faces. They are mostly painted blue and shades of orange and brown.
16 Aug 2022

Crathes painted ceilings project: an introduction

Enjoy our first update from the major conservation project currently taking place at Crathes Castle.

A old handwritten diary lies open on a white cushion. The page on the left has an envelope folded over part of it. The page on the right is filled with dense lines of writing.
15 Aug 2022

Research volunteering at Newhailes

Hear from one of our volunteers about his fascinating work transcribing a historical travel diary.

A narrow gravel path runs between a lawn and a flower bed bursting with colourful plants. Behind the flower bed is a hedge, and behind it is the grand Haddo House. Tree branches frame the top of the photo.
12 Aug 2022

Ferns and finds at Haddo House Garden

As the PLANTS North team wrap up their work at Haddo House, it’s a great opportunity for Philippa Holdsworth (Team Manager) to reflect on the project and the path forward.