The National Trust for Scotland’s Threave Gardening Show is back for 2021 with a new approach for 2021. The three-day event is for everyone who loves gardens and gardening and takes place at one of Scotland’s premier gardens, Threave from 4 – 6 June.
They will host an open-air plant sale as well as other socially-distanced garden activities for all the family over the weekend. The Threave team have been inspired this year to create video demonstrations that will be available throughout the garden accessed via QR-codes. This is a safe way to be able to engage with visitors by using new ways to provide a fun and informative experience.
Sam Gallacher, Operations Manager says: “Our first Threave Gardening Show in 2019 was a great success and that’s why we took it online last year with the support of our local strategic partners, the Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme. To our garden team’s credit, they put on a great online event, but we’re all really looking forward to welcoming visitors on site this year for our third edition of Threave Gardening Show 2021. Excitingly, we did learn from our virtual experiences last year about how we can successfully communicate our horticultural knowledge in video form, a new skill which we’re integrating into the physical space of the garden.”
Michael Lawrie, Head Gardener D&G and Head of NTS School of Heritage Gardening says, “The whole team at Threave has given their all to not only maintaining our high horticultural standards but also to keep developing the garden in new ways. We are really proud of how we are using QR technology to stay connected to our visitors. And for anyone wondering, it’s dead easy to use – just scan a code with your own smartphone anywhere you find a QR-code printed on a sign in the garden and it will link you to the relevant video clip. So, scan a QR-code in the walled garden and learn how best to plant your potatoes, or find another QR-code in the rose garden to watch a short video on how identify commons pests and diseases. If this event shows how this technology can augment the visitor experience in practice, it opens a whole new frontier for us in heritage gardening!”
The team will be showcasing a number of specialist nurseries with plants for sale, as well as presenting a flower extravaganza from our group of skilled and dedicated volunteer flower arrangers. Attendees will also have the opportunity to gain advice and ideas from expert gardeners and students from the famous NTS School of Heritage Gardening who have innovated, transformed and developed our outstanding garden for over sixty years. Threave House will also be open to visit the flower displays via a free flow tour.
Michelle Robertson, Visitor Services Manager (Threave), says, “As one of the first events underway following the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions, the safety of our visitors is paramount, just as it is every day with the garden in full operation. While keeping everyone safe, my team and I are so pleased that Threave in June can provide such a perfect setting for this event, which will celebrate Scottish and international horticulture. Throughout the weekend, we’ll have cream teas in The Terrace Café, Artisan pulled meat brioche buns and ice-cream specials from our The Stables Café and retail offers all weekend.”
Upon arrival, visitors will receive a special map of the garden identifying the location of the plant market, the flower extravaganza, and each of the QR-codes which link to the video demonstrations. Our exhibitors will be arranged in the open air alongside the main paths (accessible for wheelchairs and mobility scooters), showing off new plants, sculpture, tools and services from landscape design to garden maintenance.
To ensure that all our visitors can enjoy a safe and socially distanced visit we will limit numbers and the duration of each visit. Tickets can be booked for the following time slots: 10am to 12 Noon; 12:30 to 14:30; 15:00 to 17:00. Car parking will also be restricted to the time of the visit. We do ask that all attendees please be respectful of their time slot and ensure that the carpark is vacated to allow the next visitors to park safely.
All visitors to the garden during this period will pay a special admission price of £5 as this is an event to support NTS School of Heritage Gardening, based at Threave, and in aid of our important partnership with Scotland’s Gardens Scheme.
Adult day ticket is £5. All children under 16 go free.
Threave Gardening Show will take place from 10am – 5pm daily on Friday, 4 June 2021, Saturday, 5 June 2021, and Sunday, 6 June 2021.
Threave Gardening Show 2021 is supported by Scotland’s Garden Scheme, Galloway Glens Landscape Partnership Scheme, and the Royal Horticultural Society.
Booking online essential: https://nts.cloudvenue.co.uk/threavegardeningshow
