• Doors Open weekend Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September. 12-4 pm
  Door's Open Day is your chance to explore some of Edinburgh's architecturally and culturally significant buildings - all for free.
  From heritage landmarks to the city's newest architecture, Doors Open Day offers free access to properties that are either not usually open to the public or would normally charge an entry fee. The event also offers the public an opportunity to find out more about the capital's public buildings.
  Thomson's Tower's historic curling museum is part of this unique weekend for the third year running, with special significance as there is a "sporting theme" to Doors Open this year.
  Afternoon teas available
  
  The 12th century Duddingston Kirk is also open Saturday 24th September 10-5 pm.

There is something for everyone to enjoy on these days within the Garden, whether it be a quiet area to contemplate, or a pleasant walk for the family.

This event took place on Sunday 19 June and was titled A Midsummer Afternoon Dream, including Music, Dance and Romance. It featured Mairi Campbell, Sangstream, Iona Bain, Zawadi Alba and friends, plus Storytelling, Poetry and Kids Stuff.

On 12th December last year, Dr Neil's Garden ran their second Christmas wreath making workshop. Our gardener Claudia Pottier was the tutor. She had cut a wide variety of greenery from the Garden, and for three hours in the Kirk Hall, thirteen students tied and snipped and decorated, barely stopping for tea and the tempting home baking on offer. By 5 o'clock there were thirteen magnificent wreaths, each one quite distinctive and personal to its maker. The photo shows the group happily posing with their festive creations

We hope to run another wreath making workshop in December 2011. Enquiries to: info@drneilsgarden.co.uk

In early December, when the snow was still deep on the ground, more than 60 people bravely trudged to Duddingston Kirk for our Concert on the theme of The Garden in Winter. Jenny Brown was our presenter and she introduced all the items of poetry, prose and song. There were some old favourites here, but some surprises too. A special item was the Con Spirito choral group singing The Skating Minister (words by Alexander McCall Smith). Tricia Ball provided piano accompaniment for the soloists.

Most of our audience joined us afterwards for the Tea Party in the Kirk Hall, which proved to be a very jolly occasion.

Nigel Neil received a plaque at the recent AGM of Scotland's Garden Scheme on 22nd March.

Thanks to grants from The Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and The National Trust for Scotland, Thomson's Tower, which snuggles in the corner of the garden on the shores of Duddingston Loch has been completely restored

After eighteen months of building work, the renovated Thomson's Tower was officially opened on Friday 31st July by Robin Aitken. Robin, a member of the Men's Senior World Champion Team who won Gold for Scotland in Canada in 2007, has long been a supporter and friend of the Garden and the Tower in particular, and was joined on the day by his fellow team mates.

The weather stayed dry and sunny long enough for guests to enjoy mingling in the garden during the reception and, thankfully for the opening speeches by Jim Baird the Chairman of the Trust, Nigel Neil, the son of Andrew and Nancy Neil and now our Hon President, and of course Robin's ribbon cutting.

Prior to the official opening, the Tower had been open to the public on Saturday and Sunday afternoons during July, and this was continued throughout August. The overall reception of the newly refurbished building and museum of curling, during this period, has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic by everyone who has visited.

In 2010 we intend to open the Tower for much longer periods of time during the summer months, and to this end we will be looking for more volunteers to act as guides !!! Anyone interested in helping should contact Barbara Anderson on 0131 661 7444.