Maintaining Inveresk Lodge Garden during lockdown

Thanks to a generous donation of £450 from the East Lothian Members’ Centre, Gardens and Designed Landscapes Manager Colin Wren was able to plant a variety of species in Inveresk Lodge Garden this spring – with socially distant help from Sinead Urquhart (Regional Business Manager), Claire Grant (Regional Operations Manager) and Stuart Maxwell (Regional General Manager).

Colin selected plants that have received an Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) due to their ability to thrive on the east coast of Scotland. A variety of non-native and UK native species have been planted to increase diversity in the garden, including Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ (plume thistle), Filipendula rubra ‘Venusta’ (meadowsweet), Aruncus dioicus (goat’s beard), Geranium phaeum ‘Album’ (dusky cranesbill) and Ranunculus acris ‘Flore-Pleno’ (double meadow buttercup).

While Inveresk is closed to the public, the peaceful garden has welcomed a whole host of exciting wildlife, with the team spotting woodpeckers, kingfishers, deer, goldfinches and moorhens whilst at work in the garden.

Colin has also been updating the plant records for the garden. He has plotted and photographed new daffodil species, recording their height and flower colour. The most exciting find is the discovery of an old daffodil variety called Narcissus ‘Seagull’.

Over the coming months, this garden will spring into life with flourishing seasonal plants and will become a feast for the senses – ready for when Inveresk Lodge Garden reopens for visitors.