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2022 Conference
Scotland's Gardens Scheme 2022 Conference took place on 27 September at the stunning Blair Castle in Blair Atholl.
We would like thank all who joined us on the day: our Volunteers, Garden Openers, Ambassadors, Partners, Beneficiaries and Friends. We celebrated the last few years of garden openings in Scotland, and some big milestones.
Thank you to our Sponsor Investec for their continuous support.
Our core beneficiaries: Maggie’s, Perennial and QNIS shared the impact of our fundraising on their charities.
Our Chairman Dougal Philip
Perennial is one of our core beneficiaries.
Scotland’s Gardens Scheme has been raising funds for Queen’s Nurses from its inception in 1931.
We celebrated a number of long service milestones, where gardens have opened with us for 75, 50 & 25 years.
Dippoolbank Cottage and Kirklands hit 25-year mark in 2022, and 2018 respectively.
Ardchattan Priory, Threave Garden and Leith Hall have opened with us for 75 years in 2022!
Castle Kennedy also opened with us for 75 years in 2018.
Danevale and Aberarder were open with Scotland’s Gardens Scheme for 50 years in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Gardens that opened for charity for 25 years are: Crinan Hotel Garden (in 2018), Inveresk Lodge Garden (in 2018), Benmore Botanic Garden (in 2019), Barnweil Garden (in 2022) and Thorntree (in 2022).
Our new Ambasador (and a real Garden Opener) Lizzie Schofield , presented the awards.
Pictured: Lizzie Schofield, Scotland’s Gardens Scheme’s Ambassador handing the award for Glendoick (50 years in 2018), received by Ken Cox.
Each year we recognise a volunteer who has shown outstanding service to Scotland’s Gardens Scheme. At the conference, we were delighted to recognise Rose-Ann Cunningham (2019), Terrill Dobson (2021), Helen Rushton and Margaret Gimblett (2022) with Diana Macnab award. The recipient of 2020 award Janet Glaisher was not present.
Thank you to everyone who took part in our bring-and-buy plant sale.
Beechgrove Garden presenters Brian Cunningham (also Scotland’s Gardens Scheme Ambassador) and George Anderson.
We thanked our former Chairman David Mitchell for his 17 years of service to Scotland’s Gardens Scheme.
How grand it is to see everyone gathered here today as we should be, and need to be. As a family of volunteers and as individuals these gatherings are essential for the charities and our own wellbeing. - said David.
Thank you for sharing the charity with me for over seventeen years, for giving your time so freely. Thank you for your commitment, your steadfast approach, your loyalty and your patience. Thank you for your energy, your innovation and your friendship. As I step down I know that as family you are in strong, good and safe hands. Bound together by common goals - and the glue in society that is gardening.
We also enjoyed Gardeners Question Time, starring David Mitchell, Ken Cox, George Anderson, chaired by Lesley Watson.
Sarah Troughton kindly shared the story of Hercules Garden at Blair Castle, and took us on a guided walk afterwards.
It was a great conference, and a wonderful way to celebrate our community!
All photographs © Malcolm Ross, except for the ones marked © SGS. Thank you Malcolm, you are a star!
We are looking forward to opening gardens for charity with you in 2023!
