About the garden
Owned by
The National Trust for Scotland
The Great Garden dates back to 1675. Brilliant design and meticulous maintenance gives Pitmedden Garden its unique, highly formal charm. With almost six miles of clipped hedging, the parterres at the heart of the garden are a masterpiece of intricate patterns that house 30,000 annual bedding plants to provide sparkling summer colours.
Centuries old trained apple trees line the walls and herbaceous borders add long seasonal charm. New for 2021 was the re-interpreted ‘floristic meadow’ parterres. Working with the landscape architect Chris Beardshaw, we’ve reinterpreted the classic parterre garden for today’s world.
Originally owned by Sir Alexander Seton, the garden and estate were passed down the generations until the Keiths bought it circa 1894. In 1952, champion agriculturalist Major James Keith, CBE, bequeathed it to the National Trust for Scotland. Upon acceptance of the garden, the Trust began the daunting task of re-creating the historic design, drawing inspiration from Gordon of Rothiemay’s parterre designs found in Holyroodhouse Palace archives.
Historic features such as the 24 faceted sundial and ancient yew trees stand aside newer features such as an orchard planted in 2014 to the south of the walled garden. The museum of farming life containing historic machinery and tools of the farming trade as well as the smiddy, farmhouse and stables all contribute to the ties that link agriculture and horticulture at this historic property.
The herb garden, potager, pleached lime and hornbeam trees as well as sculptures by artist John Maine R.A all add to Pitmedden Garden’s rich tapestry.
