The garden, which will also feature mirrors, mosaics and artificial turf, is being created by former Black Watch soldier, Ray Howie from Ballingry in Fife, along with Henry McLelland from Edinburgh who served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and a team of other forces veterans.

Ray says: “All of us on the team have made use of Gardening Leave’s garden at Auchincruive near Ayr and we wanted to create a garden that would raise money for the work of the charity.”

Ray is an experienced show garden designer, having previously won a gold medal at Ayr Flower Show and he is currently designing a war memorial garden for Dobbies Garden Centre in Edinburgh.

The charity, Gardening Leave, which has sites at Auchincruive, Erskine and Broughty Ferry, works to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of serving and ex-Service personnel by providing horticultural therapy in walled gardens.

Gardening Scotland 2012 will take place from Friday, 1 June until Sunday, 3 June at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh.

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Picture caption: Ray Howie and Henry McLelland with Dawn Gibson from Dobbies who are donating some of the plants and materials for the show garden.

Fore more information on Gardening Scotland:

Agnes Stevenson, 07766 742142, agnes.c.stevenson@gmail.com

For more information on Gardening Leave:

Emma Mason, 07762 117433, emma@emmamasonpr.co.uk

The New Hopetoun Gardens Floral Hall will be filled with award-winning nurseries from across the UK, selling a huge range of top quality plants.

Dougal Philip and Lesley Watson, who own New Hopetoun Gardens and have in previous years created many medal-winning show gardens at the event, will create a display at the entrance to the Floral Hall where they can meet visitors and talk to them about the importance of using nectar-rich plants.

Dougal says: “Plants are absolutely essential to life on our planet and they influence the wellbeing of all of us. The Floral Hall contains the biggest range of garden plants in Scotland so it is very natural for us to support it.”

Martin Dare of Rural Projects who organise Gardening Scotland says: “New Hopetoun Gardens is an outstanding garden centre and Dougal Philip and Lesley Watson have contributed greatly to the success of the show in previous years through the creation of stunning show gardens.

“We are delighted that they are now to be sponsors of the Floral Hall and we look forward to a flourishing relationship with New Hopetoun Gardens.”

Gardening Scotland 2012 will take place from Friday, 1 June until Sunday, 3 June at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh

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For more information please contact:

Agnes Stevenson, Gardening Scotland, 07766 742142, agnes.c.stevenson@gmail.com

Dougal Philip, New Hopetoun Gardens, 01506 834433, info@newhopetoungardens.co.uk

Unlike roses that wither and chocolates that add inches to the waste line, tickets to the national gardening and outdoor living show are a long-lasting, calorie-free pleasure!

And with beautiful Show Gardens and hundreds of thousands of exquisite plants for sale in the famous Floral Hall, the promise of a day at the show is a huge romantic gesture for anyone who adores their garden.

Food lovers can indulge their passions too at the Gardening Scotland Food Fayre where they’ll find succulent sausages, farm-produced cider and many other delicious foods. And some of Scotland’s leading chefs will be whipping up a storm of flavours in the Cookery Theatre.

Add that to the miniature Pallet Gardens, family fun in the Big Back Garden, advice for nature lovers in the Living Garden and more than 400 exhibitors selling all the essentials for outdoor living and it all adds up to an unforgettable day out.

Tickets cost £14 for Friday and £12 for Saturday or Sunday when bought in advance. Click here to book online or call 0131 333 0965.

Or if you really want to spoil your loved one, then treat them to one of the Gardening Scotland VIP packages, which combine lunch or afternoon tea with tickets to the gardening event of the year plus a copy of the offical Show Catalogue.

Check out the VIP packages available here.

Gardening Scotland has always attracted top nurseries from across the UK but this year the choice is set to be better than ever thanks to the many new growers who will be joining the regular exhibitors in the Floral Hall. 

Amongst the exciting new names this year are Holmes Farm Plants from Irvine and Rebekah’s Veg Seeds from Lancashire.

So if your borders are looking drab following months of wet and windy weather, then make a date with the biggest gardening show in Scotland and inject some glorious colour back into your garden.

Advance tickets are on sale now at the discounted price of £14 for Friday and £12 for Saturday or Sunday. Click here to book online or call us on 0131 333 0965. 

Or if you really want to treat yourself or someone special, check out the VIP ticket packages we have available here.

The briefing will take place on Wednesday 8th February at 3pm in The Pentland Pavilion at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh.

Gardening Scotland Show Manager, Jim Jermyn will lead the briefing and will speak about the ground rules and regulations as well as the criteria for judging.  There will also be an input from Gardening Scotland’s PR Consultant, Agnes Stevenson, who will explain how to make the most out of potential publicity.

To book a place at the briefing please email info@gardeningscotland.com or call 0131 333 0965

The Premier Gold award, which will be introduced at next year’s show, will carry a prize value of £500 and will be awarded to exhibitors creating outstanding displays.

At the same time a Best New Plant award will be introduced, also with a £500 prize value.

This will provide an opportunity for nurseries to promote a new plant or recent cultivar and have it judged by five top industry experts with specialist knowledge of garden plants and their commercial value.

Martin Dare, organiser of Gardening Scotland says: “Gardening Scotland attracts the cream of the UK’s nurseries and growers and it is the first chance for the public to take home some of the newest plant introductions.

“We have introduced these awards as a way of recognising those exhibitors who create exceptional displays or who use the show to launch brilliant new plants.”

Almost 400 exhibitors take part in Scotland’s national gardening and outdoor living show, which attracts 40,000 visitors over three days.

As well as plant sales Gardening Scotland includes Show Gardens, advice and demonstrations, a craft marquee, a food fayre and lots more.

Gardening Scotland 2012 will take place from Friday, 1 June until Sunday, 3 June at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh.

Advance tickets are priced from £12.

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For more information please contact:

Agnes Stevenson, PR Consultant

0141 560 4563       07766 742142       agnes.c.stevenson@gmail.com

Treat yourself or green-fingered friends to the perfect present this Christmas with tickets to Gardening Scotland 2012.

The show will take place from Friday, 1 June until Sunday, 3 June at The Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh and it will feature 400 exhibitors selling everything that gardeners could ever need to make their gardens flourish.

Gardening Scotland is a once-a-year opportunity for gardeners to buy an immense range of top quality plants direct from the experts who actually grow them and as well as nurseries from all over the UK there show includes, crafts, a food fair, advice sessions, demonstrations and lots more.

Ticket prices have been held at 2011 levels of £16 for Friday and £14 for Saturday or Sunday.

However visitors who buy tickets in advance can take advantage of a saving of £2 per ticket and children under 16 go free at any time.

Tickets are available online at www.gardeningscotland.com or by calling the ticket hotline on 0131 333 0965.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Agnes Stevenson

07766 742142

0141 560 4563

agnes.c.stevenson@gmail.com

Gardening Scotland 2012 will take place from Friday 1st June until Sunday 3rd June at The Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh and visitors will get the chance to snap up prize-winning plants from some of the UK’s top nurseries and growers. 

Tickets have been held at 2011 prices of £16 for Friday and £14 for Saturday or Sunday, but those who buy their tickets in advance can benefit from a £2 discount per ticket as well as entry to the show 15 minutes before it opens to the rest of the public. Children under 16 go free but must be accompanied by an adult.

Advance ticket prices:

Friday £14

Saturday/Sunday £12

Book your tickets online here or by calling 0131 333 0965

Following one of the most successful shows ever, tickets to next year’s national gardening and outdoor living show will go on sale early.

Gardening Scotland 2012 will take place from Friday 1st June until Sunday 3rd June and in order to meet the demand from visitors keen to return or to experience the event for the first time, tickets will go on sale on 1st November.

Tickets have been held at 2011 prices of £16 for Friday and £14 for Saturday or Sunday, but those who buy their tickets in advance can benefit from a £2 discount per ticket.

So if you are looking for the perfect Christmas gift for green-fingered friends or just want to be sure of your place at Scotland’s top gardening event, then you can book your tickets next week here on the Gardening Scotland website or by calling us on 0131 333 0965. 

For more information please get in touch.