The high winds and storms three weeks ago left a legacy of destruction in Brodick Castle gardens and grounds.
Now the National Trust for Scotland has launched an appeal for urgent public support to help fund repairs to the badly storm-damaged historic gardens. Around a dozen gardens in the trust’s care have suffered from the bad weather. A trust spokesman said: ‘Brodick Castle, garden and country park has experienced some of the worst garden damage.’
Head gardener Colin Totty said: ‘Any donations will be used specifically for storm damage repairs in Brodick.’
As reported in the Banner, up to 30 trees, many of them 200 years old, were brought down earlier this month. The garden and many of the trails are closed until further notice while staff clear the debris.
Colin said: ‘All our usual winter garden work has been shelved. The cost of dealing with the damage will amount to about £40,000. Outside contractors have been brought in and the army of volunteers have been a great help.
‘Some of the trees that have come down are so big they would have been planted between 1780 and 1850. We also have to deal with many still standing but unsafe. In particular, a rare Abies Alba planted next to the Bavarian summer house in 1810 will have to come down. It’s very sad.’
Sue Tozer of the castle administration said: ‘Any cheques should be made out to The National Trust for Scotland and we will forward them to the appeal.’ She stressed that any local donations will be used in the Brodick gardens work.
Colin Totty added: ‘The gardens are closed, but we will definitely be open for Easter.’
