2025 Conference at Hospitalfield House

We were delighted to welcome garden owners, volunteers, supporters and friends from all over Scotland, to our 2025 conference at Hospitalfield House, Arbroath, this year. 

We had presentations from our Chairman, Dougal Philip and Chief Executive, Liz Stewart, celebrating the impact of funds raised by all of our garden openers and volunteers this season.

Liz Stewart, SGS Chief Executive

We held a number of workshops for our delegates this year, with our many thanks to Angela Smith of RHS for running a beautiful Herbs for Wellbeing workshop.

Herbs for Wellbeing Workshop

Delegates enjoyed a wonderful garden tour, hosted by Lucy Byatt, Director, Hospitalfield. 

Garden tour

Group discussions were held for all of our delegates to provide opportunities to provide feedback and discuss the future of our charity.

Discussion group

We heard from our core sponsor Gordon Lawrie of Rathbones.

Gordon Lawrie, Rathbones

With thanks to our guest speaker Greg Kenicer of RBGE for his talk “Plants and people - in the garden and beyond.”

Greg Kenicer, RBGE

We presented this year’s Diana Macnab Award to Minette Struthers, and said our congratulations to our other winner Sarah Landale.

Dougal Phlilip and Minette Struthers

We celebrated our long service awards in 2025. With our congratulations to Dalfruin on 25 years of opening, Carolside on 50 years and Drummond Castle on 75 years. 

Mr and Mrs James A Welsh, Dalfruin Garden Owners celebrating 25 years

We provided an update on our Cattanach Bursary Scheme for this year.

SGS Trustee Helen McMeekin

With thanks to our guest speaker Lucy Byatt for her talk on Hospitalfield and it’s Gardens.

Lucy Byatt

Please enjoy our conference gallery below, all photos shared with thanks to our event photographer Malcolm Ross:

Our 2025 delegates

Edinburgh District Organisers, Chris and Jerry Gregson with Chairman Dougal Philip

Perthshire team members, Fiona Stewart and Alex Lindsay

Kevin Maginnis (Edinburgh), Julian and Theo Stanning (Kirkcudbrightshire) and Gill and Peter Hart (Fife)

Ray Cox, Mary Jane & Patrick Thompson

Stephen McCallum (SGS Vice Chair) Moira Coleman and Annie Stewart

David Mitchell

Herbs for Wellbeing Workshop

Discussion Group

Angela Smith, RHS

Raffle winner of Niwaki bundle

Raffle winners of Garden Tour at The Japenese Garden at Cowden

Raffle winner of Burgon and Ball Trowel

Raffle winner of Burgon and Ball Fork

Raffle winner of Pairs Scotland Voucher

Raffle winner of Pictorial Meadows Seed Bundle

Raffle winner of signed Plant Magic Book

Raffle winner of Adam Frost Tour Tickets

Raffle winner of New Hopetoun Gardens Gift Voucher

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With our sincere thanks to our 2025 conference sponsors:

and supporters:

our raffle contributors: