Scone Palace Garden Fair
November 8th 2022The biggest story from Scone Place Gardens this year was the launch of the inaugural Scone Palace Garden Fair in June, which welcomed nearly 4,000 visitors from across the country interested in gardening.
With exhibitors selling and advising, on a range of seasonal plants and garden-related accessories, alongside craft stalls, horticultural societies, entertainment for kids, and jazz music in the sunshine, it was the perfect recipe for a superb two days of all things gardening.
Head Gardener, Brian Cunningham (of BBC’s Beechgrove Garden) was on hand to answer horticultural questions along with co-presenters, Carol Baxter, and George Anderson - and none of them were camera shy for hordes of adoring fans.
Scone Palace Gardens are maintained and developed by Brian's team of full-time gardeners and local volunteers. As the grounds are so extensive, covering more than 100 glorious acres, maintenance is a full-time job, and ticket entry to the Garden Fair allowed not just access to the Fair, but the opportunity to to tour the grounds and see the Victorian Pinetum, the Murray Star Maze, the Walled Garden restoration project, the Kitchen Garden, and of course to stroll through the Laburnum Walkway, dazzling in June with its distinctive bright yellow flowers.
Dogs on lead were also welcomed to the Fair and took time to guide their owners through the accessible network of paths and trails throughout the grounds.
Lord and Lady Mansfield along with Viscount and Viscountess Stormont, attended the Fair, and chatted happily with visitors and exhibitors alike.
Viscount Stormont said, “We were absolutely delighted by how well the Garden Fair went in its inaugural year. Turnout was well above what we expected and importantly visitors were buying – so much so that many nurseries had to restock overnight!
“It is clear that the Scottish gardening community needed this event and meet up. Our ambition is to make this event a home for this community, the home of Scottish horticulture so that all green-fingered Scots whether they be newbies or professionals, have a space to gather, share ideas, and celebrate the joy of gardening.
"The theme of the event being accessible, more intimate, and perhaps less elitist than other shows, resonated with everyone.”
The Events team at Scone Palace is already planning for next year's Scone Palace Garden Fair which will take place on 2nd and 3rd June 2023, offering a unique experience to meander the early summer grounds of Scone Palace and catch the rhododendrons and iris in bloom, and to browse and shop from the hand-picked retailers at the Fair.
Viscount Stormont said, “I am extremely excited to grow this event to make it the home of Scottish gardening, and to do so in tandem with the evolution of the garden and grounds here at Scone Palace. This is what will make this event special in the future.”
