Brodick Castle’s estimated 360 species of rhododendron are to be counted and catalogued as part of a three-year plant audit project being undertaken by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS).
The inventorying of approximately 100,000 plants across its 39 major gardens is in its final year, with some rare items already discovered. These include a 17th century holly tree and a scarlet fire rose, planted in 1921.
So far, 61,938 plants have been meticulously documented. This will help the conservation charity form a plan to protect the rare, unusual and precious plants it cares for across Scotland.
By cataloguing the collection of plants, the trust is also able to understand the composition of the collection so that in years to come, it will be able to identify any vulnerabilities – particularly with regards to climate change, plant disease or biodiversity crisis.
Dr Anna Florence, curator of plant collections for NTS, said: “Now in the final year of the Plant Listing at the National Trust for Scotland (PLANTS) project, it’s remarkable to look back and see the amazing stories we’ve unearthed. These include finding original plantings from Scottish artist Edward Atkinson Hornel’s Japanese inspired garden at Broughton House, to one of the oldest holly trees in Scotland at Castle Fraser. We’re not sure of its exact age, but it features in a painting that helps us to date it as a mature tree before 1842.
“We’re sure there will be more fascinating links for us to uncover as we begin this year’s season of auditing and I’d like to thank our team and volunteers for helping up protect the nature, beauty and heritage for everyone to admire for years to come.”
Plant inventory officers will be visiting Brodie Castle next. Its garden is known for its massive collection of daffodils and is home to more than 100 of the original cultivars planted by Major Ian Brodie, the 24th Laird of Brodie, in the early 1900s.
They will then record the plant collections at Inverewe Garden, designed by Osgood Mackenzie and featuring California redwoods, rare Wollemi pines, Himalayan blue poppies and a variety of rhododendrons from China, Nepal and India.
Arran is next, with officers visiting to confirm the condition of Brodick Castle’s rhododendron collection, which was once filled with more than 360 different species of rhododendron and home to the Horlick Collection gifted to the trust by Sir James Horlick in 1958. Finally, they will travel to Hill of Tarvit and Kellie Castle and Garden.
Further information about the National Trust for Scotland can be found at www.nts.org.uk.
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