Top horticulturalists will share expert tips at fundraiser for Ellisland Museum and Farm
Green fingered experts will hold a Gardeners Question Time at Robert Burns Ellisland Farm outside Dumfries this month.
The panel includes one of the UK’s top horticulturists, Colin Crosbie, who was head gardener for the late Queen Mother at Windsor before joining the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley.
Also on the panel is Laura Keenan, the Head Gardener at The Isle Estate which borders Ellisland. Laura trained at The Barony and Threave and has worked with the Jencks family on the Garden of Cosmic Speculation and Crawick Multiverse.
They are joined by Helen Knowles, founder and owner of Tinnisburn Plants, Canonbie, an RHS Gold Medal winner. Helen is known for her knowledge of hardy perennials and is President of the Meconopsis Group.
Doors open 7.00pm for 7.30pm on Tuesday 18 June and refreshments are included in the ticket price. Proceeds go to the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust, the charity devoted to safeguarding the home where Burns wrote Tam o Shanter and Auld Lang Syne.
The evening event is part of a project called Burns, Barns and Byres that will run at Ellisland this year and is funded by Historic Environment Scotland, Museums Galleries Scotland and the People’s Postcode Lottery
Siobhan McDonald, manager of the Burns, Barns and Byres Project said:
“We are thrilled and grateful that these leading experts are giving us their time for what will be a very exciting evening. The outdoor space is a very special part of Ellisland and our gardens and woodlands are maintained by volunteers. Burns wrote extensively about the natural world, so this event is very fitting for his farm.
She added:
“The experts will endeavour to answer any questions you have about problematic plants. If your plant is portable, then you are welcome to bring it along. Otherwise please come armed with a full description and a photograph if you have it.”
If the weather is good, Gardeners Question Time will be held in the orchard next to the farmhouse built by The Bard. Otherwise it will take place in his adjacent barn.
Tickets are £8.00 with a discount for members of the Robert Burns Ellisland Trust. They can be purchased online here https://tinyurl.com/3rw8hsc7 or by calling Ellisland on 01387 730426 or emailing [email protected]
