Orkney Garden Festival 2025
The Orkney Garden Festival returns with a full summer of open gardens. Scotland’s Gardens Scheme is delighted to welcome a host of gardens open for charity across Orkney this season, including three new gardens for 2025 and five returning gardens. Open dates begin on the first weekend in June and run through to the last weekend in July offering an abundance of choices to make it a day out to enjoy the beauty of Orkney and the talents of these gardeners. Some locations will be offering plant sales and teas, but all will be sharing many ideas for gardeners to take home.
New gardens
Laura’s Wood is open for charity on Sunday 8th June, with over 1,500 varied tree species planted into half an acre. An area adjacent to the trees is sown annually with bird seed mix. Seeds included kale, mustard, crimson clover, phacelia, rape, buckwheat, borage, corn marigolds, oats and barley to feed the wild birds and create a vast and diverse buffet for pollinators. There will be a plant sale at this garden. Admission is by donation with funds raised going to Parkinsons UK.
Waulkmill Garden open to visit on Saturday 21st June, is a three-acre garden overlooking the sands of Waulkmill Bay. Created over the last 15 years amidst bog and heathland, the garden sits alongside Hobbister Bird reserve. The native, wild, naturalistic-style planting includes hardy plants for the windy plot and Orkney native shrubs and trees. A dipping pond, long borders and perennial planting are designed to take in the spectacular views over Scapa Flow. The St Magnus Way cuts through the land and a sculpture garden is currently under development. There will be tea, coffee and cakes available. Admission is £5 with funds raised going to the Orkney Amateur Swimming Club.
Mill House on Hoy is open for charity on Saturday 28th June, gardens are a seaside sanctuary of quiet contemplative rooms on many levels, with amazing views. The many secluded seated areas are accessed by steps, tree lined paths and walled garden routes leading around the sprawling grounds, with an array of trees, shrubs, flowers for seasonal colour and interest with formal and natural ponds attracting abundant wildlife. There is a sea front rockery overlooked by a glazed deck from where you can view Scapa Flow. The fruit and vegetable garden is home to a self-built recycled green house, a sheltered potting area, cold frames, raised beds for growing the family’s produce including a dappled shaded herb garden behind the house, all giving hours of peace and health benefits working with the steady processes of gardening. There will be a plant sale at this garden. Entry is £5, with proceeds raised will be going to The Brain Injury Association. Lunch will also be available with a special open garden menu at Emily’s Restaurant, adjacent to Mill House. Please book for lunch ahead of time by contacting Email: emily_vsmith@yahoo.co.uk.
Returning gardens for 2025
Westlea in St. Margaret’s Hope is open for charity on Sunday 8th June, and demonstrates that a relatively small space can be transformed into a plant-packed paradise! Plants that are usually difficult to grow in Orkney thrive here and the lush green paths give wonderful access to a rich range of plants. Entry is by donation with all proceeds going to Scotland Garden Scheme beneficiaries.
Round House in Kirkwall will be open for charity on Saturday 5th July. This half acre site with a view towards North Isles. There are an established windbreak comprising mixed shrubs and trees, seven raised beds for vegetables and flowers, a bog garden with huge gunnera and water-loving plants. A very large rockery, non- alpine, with a path over the top. There are two small, wooded areas, one with bluebells, and areas of grass made over to a wildflower meadow. Entry is by donation with funds going to The Orkney Food Bank.
Hattamoa Skiddy Brae, Rendall, is open for charity on Sunday July 6th. Set in an acre of land, the garden has a mixture of flowers, vegetables, raised beds, wildlife and a pond. There are also a few mature shrubs, windbreak boundaries of willow and dog rose, two polytunnels, one with fruit trees. A new hornbeam hedge and a gabion basket windbreaker wall. A must for a gardener looking for ideas for their poly tunnels. There will be a tea and a plant sale at this location. Entry is by donation with funds going to The Clan Strachan Charitable Trust.
Kierfiold House west of Dounby, will be open on Sunday 6th July and Sunday 20th July. A 150-year-old walled garden in Orkney’s West Mainland, which provides a unique micro climate against the windy, coastal conditions. The ‘gardens within gardens’ layout provides sheltered growing for hostas, irises, grasses and a collection of more than 120 species and hybrids of perennial geraniums. Organically gardened, the space is alive with birds, bees and butterflies. There will also be a plant sale at Kierfiold House both open days. Entry is £5 with proceeds raised going to The Orkney Food Bank.
The Quoy of Houton in Orphir is open to visit on Sunday 27 July. This is an unusual, historic, walled panoramic garden with 60-foot rill which leads the eye to the spectacular coastal views of Scapa Flow. Carefully planted to withstand winds in excess of 60 mph, with floral interest from March to September. This is a nationally recognised garden. There will be tea, coffee and cake at the Quoy. Entry is £5 with funds raised going to The Peedie Retreat.
