In response to Government restrictions being eased, the Garden will be open again on the following dates and times.
A maximum of 20 people at any one time will be allowed in the Garden.
The toilet will be CLOSED to visitors for safety reasons and the Garden Cafe remains CLOSED.
Access will only be from Duddingston Kirk car park.
Back in September, it became very obvious that with all the Social Distancing regulations still in place (and looking like they were here to stay for the foreseeable future,) that the winter was going to be a problem.
How are we to shelter our wonderful Volunteer Teams throughout the cold, wet months of the winter and early spring? The workshop/toolstore is no longer a viable option. It was always cramped at best, but now with social distancing its an absolute impossibility!
So I got my thinking cap on and did a little searching.
The National Lottery Community Fund has a grant for up to £10000 to help community projects weather and recover from the Coronavirus epidemic. It seemed too good to be true!
So we did a bit more thinking about what we really needed, how much it would cost and applied for £7450 to convert the Toolshed into a Volunteer Hub where the volunteers can safely shelter from the rain as it passes over us and eat their lunch in the warm and the dry. We also asked for a bit to make a safe access route to and from the Greenhouse and the New Toolshed.
All our dreams have come true and we are now all so excited to see the ork progress
#NATIONAL LOTTERY
Unfortunately due to illness we have had to cancel the concert
Please contact us via email or phone for the refund of any tickets purchased, Barbara Anderson on 07854 754013 or banderson456@hotmail.co.uk
As you can imagine Claudia and her team of volunteers having been working hard
Amending paths …
Reseeding …
And improving drainage …
All in advance of opening again 5th March 2020.
Please note the Garden will be closed to visitors from Monday 21st October 2019 re-opening 5th March 2020.
Groups may visit but only by prior appointment arranged via the Garden
website (www.drneilsgarden.co.uk)
Over the last few years, the Garden has had an increasing volume of visitors. Indeed, we have been listed by Tripadvisor as 26th out of 421 visitor attractions in Edinburgh.
Whilst it is great that more and more people are finding and enjoying the Garden, those of you who visit regularly will have noticed the downside – serious compaction wear and erosion on the paths and in many areas such as the approach to the formal pond area where there are many exposed tree roots. This not only compromises the appearance of the Garden but also has Health and Safety implications.
We have therefore reluctantly taken the decision to close the Garden over the winter to give it a chance to rest and so Claudia and her volunteers can repair and reinstate the affected areas. We look forward to welcoming all our Friends and visitors back in Spring 2020.
Events advertised on the website under “What’s On” are unchanged.
