Saughton Park is a large open space of playing fields and athletics tracks, the biggest skate board park in Scotland and a modern creative play area. Spread over 34 acres it lies along side the water of Leith on Gorgie Road. It also contains Saughton Gardens which has a long and varied history and more recently the gardens have been restored and received a new lease of life. With money from Heritage Lottery funding it has been possible to create teaching and demonstration gardens alongside swathes of grass, trees and colourful borders. It has become a great resource for Edinburgh residents seeking a quiet place to sit, walk or meet friends. We visited in early June 2021 on a hot sunny day, catching up with family after lockdown.
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| Alliums and catmint |
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| Topiary and Alliums, always a great mix |
Saughton is first found back in 1128 in a Charter writen by King David 1 founding Holyrood Abbey. From the mid 1200s Saughton fell within the lands of Gorgyn (Gorgie and then in the early 1300's back into the ownership of the Abbey of Holyrood where the land was farmed. Through the 1500 and 1600 the land changed hands on several occasions. In 1660 Robert Baird an Edinburgh business man bought the lands of Saughtonhall and they stayed in the Baird family until the early 1800's. At this time the hall was leased out as a private lunatic asylum until 1900 when the lands and hall were purchased by the Edinburgh Corporation).
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| Summer colour |
From about 1835 it was managed by Drs John Smith and William Lowe. Lowe was a noted botanist himself and introduced an early form of ‘horticultural therapy’ by encouraging patients to work in, and enjoy the extensive gardens. In June 1907 the hall and grounds, were let for two years in order to host the six-month long Scottish National Exhibition. The Exhibition was based around industry, such as Agriculture, Engineering and Horticulture. As well as art and social issues such as housing. It was for the Exhibition that the entrance at Gorgie road was constructed and the original winter garden. Edinburgh Corporation had purchased the park in 1905 from the Bairds, however, it wasn’t until June 1910 that Saughton Park and Gardens were at last opened to the public.
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| Alliums |
In subsequent years through the 20th and into the 21st century the gardens continued to be a valuable green space for city residents. The winter and Rose gardens continued to flourish alongside a paddling pool and the bandstand that has been restored and still stands in the garden today. The park has hosted the Highland show on occasion and was used to grow veg during the second world war to feed the hospitals of the city. In the 1960’s the Rose Garden was re-created with a display by the Royal National Rose Society; their first Scottish display garden and in 1984 the new Winter Garden was opened after a partnership between the City Council and the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society.
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| The bandstand |
The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society has had a long history with Saughton Park. In the 1980's The Caley were very involved with the refurbishment of the Winter garden and used it as a base with offices, stores and holding plant sales. Now the Caley in partnership with The City of Edinburgh Council and
Friends of Saughton Park have been working on the restoration of the park, with help from Heritage lottery funding. This has resulted in the lovely gardens you see today and the Caley now have a permanent base within the park with an office, demonstration gardens and plans for much more.
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| The glasshouses make in imposing focal point |
The gardens are now made up long pathways connecting the Physic Garden, winter garden, Rose Garden, orchards and walled garden with many interesting and beautifully designed borders in between. Specimen trees provide shelter and height along with mature hedges, which dissect the park into garden areas. Its a great space to wander and enjoy the plant and wild life.
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| I wonder as I wander where this path will go |
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| Lychnis dioica, Red Campion in the Physic garden |
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| The Physic garden |
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| Angelica flowering in the Physic garden |
We enjoyed our wander through the gardens, it was a hot sunny day and it was lovely to see the place being well used. With plenty places to sit, people were catching up with friends and family, reading a book or just enjoying the sun and a green space to relax. Saughton is also dog friendly, which makes it much easier to visit if you have your furry friend with you, especially on a hot day. Water bowls are provided and they are allowed in the outdoor sitting area of the cafe. The gardens are free and easily accessible with car parking on the western side and plenty buses passing outside along Gorgie Road.
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| Iris |
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| The Rock Garden |
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| Meconopsis 'Marit', |
While visiting Saughton have some lunch or a cafe in
The Garden Bistro, the food is delicious and enjoy the views of the garden form the outdoor seating or indoors in colder weather while you relax with friends and good food.
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| There's always room for pudding |
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| David and Bracken anticipating lunch |
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