Suntrap Garden’s Open Day in May 2011 could be its last unless the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and Oatridge College’s scandalous decision to sell the Green Belt located Garden to property developers is halted.

But all is not lost.

A group of representatives of the organisations which use Suntrap is seeking a rescue package by pursuing funding to run the Garden with the help of volunteers.  And as part of the effort the Garden volunteers are holding a further Open Day as part of its fundraising efforts on Sunday 22^nd May from 10.30am – 4pm.   Attractions will include a sale of plants, displays, exhibits and demonstrations, face-painting for the youngsters, Eubee a snowy owl, gardening for children, refreshments and home baking.

Entry to the garden is £2 for adults and free for children and OAPs, with the money from that and several of the stalls going to the Friends of Suntrap and Save our Suntrap Campaign. Parking is free.

Suntrap is reached from the A8 and is signposted about half a mile west of the Edinburgh City Bypass roundabout. It is served by Lothian Buses services 25, 34 and 45 to the Park and Ride at Riccarton/Heriot Watt Campus.

Benefactor, George Boyd Anderson, gave the Garden to the NTS in 1966 as a place for horticultural education for those with small gardens – a concept well ahead of its time.  He wanted the NTS to ensure it would be really useful to the public.  It has provided advice and classes to generations of gardeners and, in recent years, has been a special therapeutic training resource for students with learning difficulties who find the place relaxing and rewarding.

Suntrap is well known in the Gardening Community.  The Save Our Suntrap (SOS) Group, led by the Friends of Suntrap (the very first NTS Friends’ group) comprises members of national and local organisations such as Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, Perennial, Scottish Gardeners’ Forum, National Bonsai Collection and Suntrap Gardening Club.

SOS is fighting passionately on behalf of the Garden.  This community group proposes to continue to open the Garden to the public and reinstate classes but also has plans to expand the role of the Garden in therapeutic and other ways, including gardening space, providing the public with fresh opportunities to garden in a healthy environment.

SOS is seeking to lease the Garden to prove that it can be run effectively in accordance with the principles under which it was gifted as a legacy to the gardeners of the future.  The members have support with the campaign from a variety of sources, including politicians.

It would be an outrage if this Garden is lost to the property market when there is a chance that it could be saved!  With help, the sun could shine again on Suntrap!

Members of the public can do their part in saving the garden by showing their support and coming along to our Open Day on Sunday May 22^nd.

There is doubt about what will happen to the National Bonsai Collection which is housed in the garden. A new bonsai house is nearing completion. In the last year volunteers have been keeping the garden open to visitors over the weekends and visitor numbers have increased as have sales of plants grown to help maintain the garden.

If you have not yet visited this treasure then please do so before the gates close for the last time. If you think it should be saved for its teaching facility which will be impossible to replicate at Oatridge then write to your MSP, MP, etc. So much lottery money is going to support the Olympic games but we need funding now for a basic educational facility for the most vulnerable members of society. On this site alone day in and day out we see people asking basic gardening questions like how to grow potatoes. At Suntrap, adult education night classes cater for the increasing numbers who want to learn about gardening.

Hidden Treasure to Close

Taken from the article from the blog – Grows on You, to find out further information http://www.sos2010.btck.co.uk

At the moment consultation is going on with the National Trust for Scotland who are joint owners of the site.  The garden will remain open until Tuesday 31 August and may well continue to be open after that date of the college withdrawal.

It is therefore with huge sadness that we have to inform you that all evening classes and workshops are being cancelled as we cannot run them from Suntrap Garden and Oatridge College has decided not to transfer classes to their main campus.

We would like to thank everyone for their support over the years and hope that you have enjoyed the classes and that they have inspired you and relaxed you.

ALL EVENING CLASSES ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING BY ILA SCOTLAND

FLOWER ARRANGING FOR ALL OCCASIONS

Monday 23^th August – 11^TH October  (8 weeks)  – £90.00

Come along and learn new ways with flower arranging.

Some previous experience necessary.  Limited to 12 places.  (Materials and flowers extra.)

Design Your Own Garden (11 weeks)

Wednesday  29th September -  8^th December – £105.00

Are you interested in planning a new garden or changing an existing one?  If so, this is the ideal course for you.  This course can lead onto a more advanced course in Horticulture and Garden Design at Oatridge College.

Please look at our website for course content

Introduction to Gardening (10 weeks) – £90.00

Thursday 30^th September – 2^nd December

Have you always wanted to know a little bit more about gardening?  This is an ideal course to learn about a wide range of basic gardening skills.   This course leads onto a further 10 week course in Spring 2011.

This course can also lead onto a more advanced course in Horticulture at Oatridge College.

Please look at our website for course content

WORKSHOPS 10.00 am to 12.00 Noon on Saturday Mornings**

(Cost of plants and materials extra)

Bulbs are not just for Spring,  Saturday 25^th September -  £12.00

Discover the wide range of bulbs that can brighten up your garden all year round.

Winter Containers and Hanging Baskets, Saturday 23rd October -  £12.00

Explore different ways to fill containers for colour throughout Winter and Spring.  (Plants, compost and containers supplied at cost or bring your own.)

Gardens by Design,  Saturday 20^th November – £12.00

Good gardens require careful thought and planning to be successful.  This workshop offers guidance on basic design principles to help you make the most of your garden.

**Christmas Decorations Workshop,  10.00 am – 12.30 pm,  Saturday 18^th December – £15.00**

Help is at hand to create two floral displays to make the home festive and colourful for Christmas.  Be the envy of family and friends.  (Materials approximately £25.)

To book or for more information contact Suntrap Garden – 0131 339 7283 (Answer Phone) or email suntrap@btopenworld.com

We had over 400 visitors and raised £700 for Perennial, Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society.

The highlight of the day however, was the visit by the Lord and Lady Provost who came for a one hour visit and enjoyed it so much they stayed for two.

Thank you to everyone for their help and support in making this such a great day.

Our students, with learning difficulties, from local Day Centres,  have been busy planting up containers and hanging baskets.  As you can see they’re resting in the Mist House until they’re ready to go on display

and the beetle from last year’s Gardening Scotland arrived yesterday

just in time for us to plant it up for our big day.

Why not come along and join us.

It’s a great day out.

SPRING AND SUMMER 2010

ADULT CLASSES

*N.B. Cost of Materials & Flowers Extra

Flower Arranging for all Occasions (some experience required) (10 Weeks)   £105.00*

Some previous experience necessary

Mondays 12 April – 14^th June, 7– 9 p.m. (Limited to 12 Places)

WORKSHOPS

10.00 am to 12.00 Noon on Saturday Mornings

£10 each Workshop or £34 if booking all four Workshops

(*Cost of plants and materials extra)

Saturday 17^th April- Vegetable growing – getting started

10.00 am to 12.00 Noon  or  1.00 pm – 3.00 pm  (Limited to 20 places)

Learn how to grow vegetables from ground preparation & seed sowing through to harvest.

Saturday 8^th May- Hanging gardens of Babylon* “Tom Hardwick’s version” (Limited to 20 Places)

Practical Workshop planting up containers and baskets for summer.  Containers, baskets and plants supplied at additional cost.

To book or for more information contact Suntrap Garden – 0131 339 7283 (Answer Phone)

or e-mail: suntrap@btopenworld.com)

So if you are thinking of renewing a part of the garden or just looking for some ideas why not give us a call and book a place.

Then it was our turn.  It was great fun, you start off thinking I have to get this right and then realise if you want you can take everything out and start again.

First Attempt

I have to say I’m delighted with my arrangement.  I’m now trying to work out how I can get out of my Monday night taxi duties with the kids to enrol in the Flower Arranging for all Occasions course which starts on the 12 April.