Achamore Gardens

To "Lover's Lane" Gate

During Col. Horlicks' era, there were many gardens within Achamore Gardens with the detailed map of 1955 showing in excess of 50 gardens. From the Malcolm Allan Garden are areas formally known as The Theatre Garden, North Triangle Garden and South Triangle Garden. These areas culminated at the gate which junctions Achamore Farm and the South Lodge track.

All the above mentioned gardens have become overgrown that they merge into an extensive woodland scene. There are still examples of the birch collection comprising, B. ermannii 'Grayswood Hill' (syn. Betula costata), B. utilis var. jacquemontii and B. papyrifera.

The rowan collection includes, Sorbus commixta, S. foliolosa, S. cashmiriana, S. esserteauana, S. randaiensis and S. aucuparia 'Fastigiana'.

The main tree canopy is Fagus sylvatica The beech. These beech seem to represent some of the oldest trees in the gardens. Age. I am loathed to guess as the growth rate of most woody species on Gigha is far more rapid than I am yet familiar with.

After a gale in 1998, a large open area was left, and so "panic planting" occured which resulted in excessive planting of griselinia, leyland conifer, hydrangea and olearias. We had to cut out many overgrown plants but the olearias have regrown and we want to continue the olearia theme with Olearia paniculata, O. macrodonta, O. x scilloniensis, O. cheesemanii and O. phlogopappa 'Comber's Blue'.

After reviewing this area during the Summer of 2010, we have a garden which really needs to be completely redesigned and replanted. This will take time and funding. I feel this could be an area that could house an extensive working collection of the genus Olearia.

(Updated by Micky Little May 2011)