The creation of Scotland’s largest and most comprehensive heather collection is taking place in the heart of Perth.
Led by Perth and Kinross Council and Beautiful Perth, the ambitious project aims to plant a new, national collection of heathers on the banks of the River Tay.
When complete, it is envisaged that the garden will host a staggering 950 species and form an important and unique attraction.
Visitors will eventually be able to follow a trail through Riverside Park taking in Norie Miller Park, Rodney Gardens, the historic Kinnoull Graveyard, Bellwood Park, a newly discovered Victorian folly, Willowgate Walk and part of Perth’s public art trail.
It is hoped that thousands of visitors from all over the UK and further afield could flock to Perth to see some of the world’s rarest species of the plant.
Significant time and money has been put into the project, which aims to restore the Fair City’s horticultural reputation.
The new collection will take the place of the former Cherrybank Gardens on the city’s Western Edge, which until fairly recently was itself officially recognised as a Collection of National Importance.
The much-loved gardens closed in 2008 when operators admitted it was no longer viable as a standalone facility.
It had been hoped to incorporate the gardens into the £25 million Calyx project, through which the Scotland’s Garden Trust aimed to create “Scotland’s Garden”.
When those plans fell through, the garden’s fate was sealed but this latest project looks set to ensure Perth continues to be a centre of national importance for horticulturalists, scientists and nature lovers.
Beautiful Perth chairman John Summers says: “We are one of the main partners in this excellent project. As well as contributing to the costs, our volunteers are taking hands-on action to help plant and maintain the new collection.
“We joined council staff volunteers in a recent pruning and tidy-up session in Bellwood Park and it was good to see the first section of heathers, which was planted last year, doing so well.”
Mr Summers added: “This is a really important project for Perth. The garden will be very important horticulturally, especially since the demise of the heather collection at Cherrybank.
“It will also form part of a fascinating and beautiful walk that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. I am proud that Beautiful Perth can play its part in making it all happen.”
Plants are being sourced from around the world to supplement cuttings taken from the collection at Cherrybank which is said to feature one-of-a-kind examples found nowhere else in the world.
They will be planted and cultivated over the next few years by a dedicated team, led by Beautiful Perth. The group (formerly Perth in Bloom) is a charity working to make Perth a great place to live, work in or visit.
It comprises a partnership of volunteers, local businesses and Perth and Kinross Council and works on a range of projects from running awards schemes and creating floral displays to organising litter picks and supporting local environmental improvement projects.
For further information visit beautifulperth.org.