By Hollis Crowe
If you have been by Dudhope Castle recently, you may have noticed a little landscaping taking shape around the grounds. Perhaps you’ve noticed a little well sprouting up? I went to investigate further, and talk to some of the people responsible for putting in the hard work to make it happen.
The castle grounds are tended to by a small group of regular volunteers, and sometimes assisted by groups coming in from other organisations for the day. Together, they care for the grounds, top up the bird feeder, and construct all sorts of interesting things to find in the garden, from bug hotels to benches. Right now, the things that are at the top of the list are the construction of some new paths, and the aforementioned well (the base is reflective, so that you can spend some time reflecting)! The appeal in being in the garden and doing the work isn’t really about shovelling the gravel over the path, or digging out the route - it’s about working together, and having fun while doing it, and making change happen around you.
In talking with lead gardener Cat, the conversation turned to some things that stop people from getting outdoors. It seems some distance or anxiety could be left over from lockdown, perhaps an increased sense of separation to the outside for those who did not have access to green space at the time? But even so, small things can bring nature to you wherever you are “even if it’s just a pot in the window.” The little things can have a calming effect, like the sound of rustling leaves, or the smell of spring flowers, and it’s certainly close by and within reach!
When managing a garden that has to meet the needs of both the people that visit, as well as the plants and creatures that live there, sometimes it can be tricky to decide which move to make next. For example, while laying concrete could make things more accessible, that landscaping also comes with soil degradation and compaction, and destruction of flora and mycelial networks vital for the function and the growth of a garden. In this castle garden, there is room to lower some environmental aims to prioritise the needs of visitors, in using second hand materials wherever possible, and providing some additional wildlife spots in off-path areas. The core aim is to create a disability-friendly space for engaging with nature. As part of that aim, the new path will include wildlife mosaics and native plants, embedding an appreciation for nature in the landscaping.
Another aspect to the theme of landscaping is that nature can be difficult to work with if you’re just looking for a certain aesthetic - and here, “we try not to argue with nature!”
The dream for the garden is that it is a full, inviting, and pleasing space to be in, that looks good all year round - not just for people, but for the bugs and the birds too. The way to do that is to plant a mix of native and non-invasive plants that attract pollinators that can handle a bit of frosty weather. Those plants and pollinators will bring in a host of birds to watch, and once you start spending time looking at how these things connect with each other, you begin to connect with them too. If you have been thinking about trying out gardening for the first time, our friendly volunteers are here to reassure you that it isn’t as scary as you might think!