GLENWHAN Gardens near Glenluce has been added to Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES)official Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes.
The inventory is a record of nationally important gardens and designed landscapes and a major resource for enhancing appreciation and understanding of these sites.
A member of the public nominated the site as part of HES’s Designed Landscapes of the Recent Past project, an initiative to identify, record, recognise and celebrate Scotland’s modern garden and designed landscape heritage.
Glenwhan Gardens was curated by Tessa Knott Sinclair who began creating the garden from scratch during the late 1970s. She transformed the wild and seemingly inhospitable moorland into one of Scotland’s most distinctive new gardens of recent times.
Tess is thrilled that her labour of love has been added to official inventory and said: “We are delighted that Glenwhan Gardens has been recognised for its national significance in Scotland. For many years, we have worked to create a special and unique place for all to come enjoy the seasons in the garden. We are so pleased our efforts will now be marked and celebrated by Historic Environment Scotland.”
Head of Designations at HES, Dara Parsons added: “Glenwhan Gardens is an excellent addition to the inventory.
“Gardens and designed landscapes of the recent past such as Glenwhan are an important element of Scotland’s historic environment and landscape. However, they are not always valued as much as older sites and can also be vulnerable to loss. It’s important to record and promote awareness of these sites through our work. We also need to ensure we protect them in the same way as older sites.”