Meet Our Trustees

Dougal Philip (Chairman)

A graduate of St Andrews University, Dougal began working as a landscape gardener before starting a garden centre, a business he has been in for over 40 years, New Hopetoun Gardens in West Lothian. A past president of the Horticultural Trades Association, a Vice President of the Royal Horticultural Society, a past chair of Perennial now one of their Vice Presidents he has much experience of running charities.

Married to Lesley Watson, a past presenter of The Beechgrove Garden, they are both very keen gardeners and love visiting other gardens. Chairing the trustees of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme will be an honour and a treat to be able to explore so many wonderful gardens across Scotland and meet so many passionate gardeners. Being able to use garden openings to raise funds for so many different charities is such a wonderful thing.

Chloe Wilson

Chloe is a marketing and communications professional with experience spanning strategy, digital and audience insight. She brings an evidence-led approach to understanding audiences, improving how organisations connect with people and helping them adapt to changing needs.

A volunteer with Scotland’s Gardens Scheme before joining the Board, Chloe has seen first-hand the enthusiasm and community spirit behind the Scheme’s garden openings. She is particularly interested in how the charity can reach new audiences and build on its heritage as it looks towards its centenary.

A keen gardener herself, Chloe recently achieved a Distinction in the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Plant Growth and Development, although her own garden continues to provide plenty of opportunities for experimentation, learning, and the occasional rethink.

Prof Eric Wright FRSE

Eric’s professional background and international career in bio-medical research as a university professor and senior member of staff in research centres brings considerable experience of governance within professional and voluntary sectors. He has served as a member and chair of numerous committees of academic and professional bodies, charities, trusts and of UK and USA government advisory committees. Eric, with his wife, opens his garden in Fife and enjoys visiting gardens across the UK.

David Buchanan-Cook

David opens his garden, Helensbank (Kincardine) under SGS. David has also been SGS Treasurer for Fife since 2016 and Co-District Organiser since 2019. David’s professional background is in fraud and risk management, in both the private and public sectors. He is also a Trustee on the Board of Perennial - the UK’s Gardeners’ Benevolent Fund and is on the garden committee of York Gate Garden near Leeds. When not gardening, or visiting gardens, David's passions include music - he is the Director of Bel Canto and also composes choral music.

Sarah Landale (Honorary Vice President)

Stephen McCallum (Vice Chair from April 2024)

Having changed career from architecture to horticulture, Stephen worked for 10 years as Head Gardener at The Beechgrove Garden before joining The MacRobert Trust as Head of Gardens. He manages the Trust’s ornamental and productive gardens and organises the annual SGS Douneside Gardens Open Day. He also manages the MacRobert Trust Horticultural Training Scheme and is proud of the growing MacRobert alumni of professional gardeners working across Scotland and beyond. He is a committee member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and brings an active interest in the Horticultural industry.

Paula Bushell

Paula has 40 years’ experience of working in the media, garden and charity sectors and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Early in her career, Paula worked in magazine PR, helping to launch House Beautiful and London’s first Country Living Magazine Fair.

After moving to Scotland, she joined The Scotsman Publications as Group Marketing and Promotions Manager before becoming Head of Marketing and Communications at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. There, she helped create many inspiring books about plants from herbology to the world of mosses.

A co-founder of garden tourism group Discover Scottish Gardens and long-time supporter of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, Paula is a keen gardener and likes getting outdoors to enjoy nature.

James Byatt BSc (Hons) MLD

A Geography graduate from Durham University James went on to complete a postgraduate degree in Landscape Design at the University of Newcastle. He has been District Organiser SGS Moray and Nairn since 2012 and has been self employed as a graphic artist drawing maps of gardens, farms and estates for almost twenty years achieving some notable commissions. A keen gardener in his spare time, he has visited many gardens across the UK very often helping to promote them through social media and the photographs he takes. 

Charlotte Hunt (Honorary Vice President)

Charlotte was brought up visiting gardens in the North of Scotland as her Mother was a District Organiser for Scotland’s Gardens Scheme for many years. Charlotte followed in her footsteps becoming an Area Organiser in Stirlingshire and went on to become Chairman of SGS for five years from 2002. Gardening is her favourite pastime and best form of relaxation. Char provides the Board with a historical perspective of our charity.

Peter Yellowlees (Honorary Treasurer)

Peter was a partner in an independent firm of Chartered Accountants advising a wide range of individuals, businesses and charities in accounting, tax and audit matters. Having visited many of the amazing gardens opened on behalf of the charity over the past 40 years, he was delighted to become Honorary Treasurer of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme (SGS) in 2011. Peter oversees the financial running of the charity as well as our OSCR reporting.

Michelle McCrindle

Initially training and working as a nurse before moving to work in the voluntary sector, Michelle retired from her charity Chief Executive role in 2024 after 22 years at the helm, and now works part-time looking after the finances of a small local development trust in Dumfries & Galloway.

With a life-long passion for all things gardening, growing produce and flowers, Michelle enjoys making pressed flower art work from her garden flowers, eating the produce from her veg plot and poly tunnel and looking for new ways to keep her garden space environmentally sustainable and efficient. Michelle helps on her local SGS Dumfriesshire committee and is involved with the Barony Gardening Club.

Colin Crosbie

Colin is a horticultural consultant based near Dumfries and has opened his garden at Dalswinton Mill for a number of years. Colin has had a fascinating career in horticulture, including having been Head Gardener to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Curator of the Royal Horticultural Society’s garden at Wisley. Colin brings his horticultural passion, expertise and knowledge of the sector, as well as his experience as one of our Garden Owners and of working within charities.

Helen McMeekin

After a career in charity fundraising, communications and events management, Helen discovered a passion for plants and gardening. She is now studying Horticulture with Plantsmanship at RBGE/SRUC and has an interest in landscape horticulture, garden design history and plant collections. She hopes to combine her skills to support the work of SGS and is looking forward to meeting its Garden Openers, volunteers and visitors. She lives in Glasgow where her own garden is a ‘work in progress’, and enjoys visiting Scotland’s fine array of gardens for inspiration.

David Mitchell (Honorary Vice President)