A nation in bloom

THE outlook may be gloomy in some sectors, but when it comes to gardening, it’s blooming. The credit crunch has sparked a huge amount of interest in gardening once more, with people wanting to learn how to save cash by growing their own fruit and vegetables, and save money by growing blooms instead of simply buying them by the bunch.

As a result, tickets for Gardening Scotland, the national garden show, have been selling like proverbial hot cakes.

The show, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, takes place from tomorrow until Sunday at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh.

Organiser Martin Dare said: “The demand for tickets has been exceptional.

“There is a lot of talk about the credit crunch, but people are still spending money on what’s important to them and gardening is more than just a luxury.

“Gardens have a deep significance in the lives of many people and increasingly they are also a source of homegrown food.

“We plan to mark our 10th anniversary with exhibits, features and a packed programme of workshops and demonstrations which will help our visitors to get the most out of their gardens.”

Central to the show will be the inspirational Show Gardens and the Dobbies Floral Hall, which will be filled with thousands of beautiful blooms and many stunning exhibits, including an urban New Zealand villa with veranda and cottage garden.

Alongside the flowers, there will also be a full programme of workshops throughout the three days of the Show, at which gardeners of all abilities can learn top tips from the experts.

Other features will include a Plant Heritage Village, a Food Fair filled with delicious produce and a huge Craft Fair filled with original artworks and home accessories.

The centrepiece of this year’s event will be a labyrinth created by the BTCV (formerly the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers), while many show gardens, miniature pallet gardens and other exhibits will feature edible crops in place of flowering plants.

The Big Back Garden will return with an emphasis on family fun and sizzling barbecue demonstrations and BBC Scotland’s top gardening team will be on stage in The BBC Scotland Beechgrove Theatre.

The Pallet Garden Challenge, organised by the Scottish Gardeners’ Federation, is set to double in size with almost 100 schools and gardening clubs lining up to create their own mini plots.

Organisers have also responded to the growing appetite for vegetable gardening by introducing workshops, exhibits and children’s activities with a productive theme.

Gardening Scotland chairman and BBC Scotland Beechgrove gardener Jim McColl said the rise in popularity of grow-your-own and an increase in grassroots gardening was behind the upsurge in interest.

“Many people are turning to gardening at the moment and that is reflected in the strength of this year’s show,” said Jim.

“At the same time, we are getting inquiries from companies with Chelsea pedigrees who want to widen their customer base beyond the south of England, as they recognise that Scotland has not been hit as hard by the downturn as other parts of the country.”

But for many visitors, the Show Gardens section is what it’s all about, as they can get ideas for their own space.

From cutting-edge contemporary designs to reworking of classical themes, all the gardens will bring a fresh approach to natural style.

One of those entering a show garden is Alan Lyall, of Overton Avenue, Inverness.

Alan’s garden, called The Journey, is a representation of his life. “It is three gardens in one, really, representing my past, present and future,” said Alan, 44.

“The past looks back to the gardens I remember as a child, full of old-fashioned colourful plants and flowers. The present is represented by jungle-type planting using lots of tree ferns and lush plants, while the future is a restful woodland garden with a sheltered area in the centre.”

Alan, who is studying an HND in garden design at the Scottish Agricultural College, Edinburgh, added: “It is nice to be able to go to the show and chat to visitors about the design of the garden, but it would be nice to get a medal, too.”

Gardening Scotland 2009 takes place from tomorrow to Sunday at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh.