NTS gardens across the North east are ready to welcome visitors
With warmer days on the way, many gardens cared for by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) have reopened for visitors to enjoy the range of spring-blooming flowers, trees and natural settings.
Following a busy Easter weekend in which more than 20,000 people attended the trust’s popular Easter Egg Trails, the charity has issued a reminder of some simple measures visitors can take to help protect the places it cares for.
With 38 important gardens and designed landscapes, the NTS is the largest garden owner in Scotland. Visitors can enjoy spring-flowering flora throughout the North East at National Trust for Scotland places, including rhododendrons at the House of Dun and fragrant wild garlic at Fyvie Castle.
Visitors to Crathes Castle, Garden & Estate can find carpets of daffodils framing woodland trails around this turreted castle.
At Castle Fraser, there are rhododendrons and spring shrubs to be found, alongside the orchard and a walled garden which is vibrant through all seasons.
Daffodils and the Old Wood of Drum are among spring highlights at Drum Castle, Garden & Estate.
Visitors are being asked to take note of biosecurity measures throughout the spring and summer seasons. By giving their shoes a spring clean before visiting a garden, keeping to the paths during their visit and using boot washes where they find them, visitors can help protect gardens.
These measures can help to reduce the spread of pests, pathogens and invasive species, outbreaks of which can be expensive to tackle and damaging to the places in the Trust’s care.
Iain Hawkins, NTS’s regional director for the North East region, said: “After a particularly grey winter season, we can’t wait to welcome visitors back to our places to enjoy a kaleidoscope of colour this springtime.
"Spending time in nature is so beneficial to our mental health and wellbeing, we encourage visitors of all ages to come and experience this for themselves.
“We don’t want to place any harsh restrictions on visitors and hope many thousands of people will see our gardens this year, but we do hope people take some of this guidance into consideration so we can continue to protect and share these beautiful spaces for years to come.”
Biosecurity guidance for garden visitors supports the charity’s vision to care for, share and protect Scotland’s nature, beauty and heritage for everyone to enjoy, as outlined in its 10-year strategy, launched in 2022.
This activity supports conservation by speaking up when heritage and nature are threatened, while meeting engagement objectives to provide access and enjoyment for everyone.
The House of Dun is open through guided tours only, Thursday – Sunday, with the first tour at 10.45am and the last tour at 2.45pm.
Pre-booking is advised by calling us on 01674 810264. The house, shop, café, Angus Folk Museum and formal gardens are open 10.30am – 4.30pm (last service in the café is at 16.00). The estate is open to explore daily, from 8am – 8pm, all year round. For complete opening hours, see the property’s page on the NTS website.
Further information about opening times and events can also be found on the National Trust for Scotland website, although opening times are subject to change. Updates will be posted online.