Gardens Open Days Edinburgh, Lothian Landscape, Scottish Parks
Edinburgh Parks and Gardens Open Day
Access to Key Parks + Properties
4 Apr 2007
Edinburgh Parks and Gardens
Information about Edinburgh Parks and Gardens Open Day
Edinburgh Parks and Gardens Open Day is an annual citywide event that takes place in Edinburgh on the first Saturday in May. The date for this year is Saturday 5 May 2007. Last year it was hugely successful. In the 2006 event an estimated 25,000 visitors participated in the event. The aims of the project are to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of Edinburgh’s urban green spaces through increasing physical and intellectual access to public and private gardens in the city. The organisers of the event hope to put the importance of conserving heritage and the landscape architecture of green spaces onto the city agenda.
45 sites take part, ranging from guided tours around the large city parks to private tenement gardens and keyed gardens. Most of the people who opened their gardens to the public in the first year found the experience very positive and have signed up to take part again this year. A PDF of the programme brochure is available to download from www.cockburnassociation.org.uk, or pick one up from libraries and tourist information centres in Edinburgh.
List of sites for Edinburgh Parks and Gardens Open Day
* = new this year
Princes Street Gardens
Queen Street Gardens
Royal Circus Gardens North
East Circus Place Garden *
Drummond Place Gardens
The Yard
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
4 Lorne place
Dunbar Close Garden
6b Chessels Court
Boswell’s Garden
Johnston Terrace Wildlife Garden
60 South Clerk Street
St Peter’s Church
St John’s Churchyard
Regent Gardens *
Greyfriars Kirkyard *
Drumsheugh Gardens *
Calton Hill *
The Magnet Play Area *
Water of Leith Visitor Centre
Burdie House Burn Valley Park
Bridgend Allotments
Edmonstone Ridge Park
Inveresk Lodge Garden
Malleny Garden
Lauriston Castle Gardens
Belleville Lodge Nursing Home
Holyrood Park
61 Fountainhall Road
Forthquarter Park at Granton
Cherrytree Community Backgreen *
Wheatfield Community Backgreen *
Leith Links Allotments *
Nether Craigwell Garden *
Hailes Quarry Park *
Edinburgh Park *
Harlaw House Wildlife Garden *
The Hermitage of Braid *
Cammo Estate *
Hopetoun House *
Roseberry Hall Gardens and Haven Garden in South Queensberry *
Portobello Community Garden *
The Inch Nursery
Corstorphine Hill
Edinburgh Parks and Gardens Open Day – Further Information
Caroline Lambie, Coordinator of the event from the Cockburn Association:
The event has grown since last year. I only have a positive response from the participants. This is an opportunity for gardeners in Edinburgh to show the work they do to an appreciative audience. It also helps to inspire people to do interesting things in their own gardens and hopefully the community projects will drum up support, and provide inspiration for other communities to start up their own garden and outdoor space projects too.
Moira Tasker, Director of the Cockburn Association says:
“Edinburgh Parks and Gardens Open Day – now in its second year – brings together communities all over the Capital in a unique free celebration of urban green spaces. From private, locked gardens in the New Town to community managed green space in Edinburgh’s neighbourhoods, the event increases physical and intellectual access to the green heritage on our doorsteps.
Many of Edinburgh’s precious gardens, allotments, parks and hidden green spaces have been under development pressure for decades. Through Edinburgh Parks and Gardens Open Day the Cockburn Association aims to highlight the importance of protecting and enhancing the City’s green lungs – for recreation, biodiversity and health and as part of the legacy we leave future generations.”
Zoë Clark, Director of Edinburgh World Heritage says:
“Edinburgh is rightly praised for the quality of its architecture, but its parks and gardens also contribute to its special character. The city’s green spaces have a quiet and reflective atmosphere that adds to the quality of life in subtle but highly significant ways.
Favourites of mine include Princes Street Gardens, a natural green space and a haven for people and wildlife right in the heart of the city and Calton Hill which offers the most breathtaking, panoramic views and the opportunity to get that all important sense of perspecitve back – in every sense.”
The Cockburn Association organised Doors Open Day annually: Doors Open Day Edinburgh
Doors Open Day – Architecture Link
Doors Open Day : Glasgow
Doors Open Days Edinburgh – general info & listings by venue
Comments / photos for the Edinburgh Parks and Gardens Open Day page welcome
Edinburgh Parks and Gardens : page