Dirleton's gardens ready for visitors as part of charity scheme

Gardens in Dirleton have welcomed visitors for two days each summer for a number of years through Scotland’s Gardens Scheme.

Tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday, a dozen or more gardens throughout the village welcome interested spectators from 2pm to 5.30pm.

Carol Drysdale, the event co-ordinator, encouraged people to come along and said: “The gardens are very different in size and style and their owners always like to share their knowledge and answer questions.

“Teas will be served in the church hall by RNLI volunteers and church helpers.”

Blooming impressive gardens in Dirleton will soon be welcoming visitors to raise money for a number of good causes

They can all be visited on a single ticket (£7 for adults, free for children under the age of 16)

Forty per cent of the takings will go to the RNLI, 20 per cent to the local conservation charity, the Dirleton Village Association, and 40 per cent shared between Scotland’s Gardens beneficiaries – The Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland, Maggie’s and Perennial (helping people in horticulture).

In addition to the individual gardens, there will be two special attractions.

Dirleton Primary School are opening their Rainbow Orchard, where there are many varieties of fruit trees which the children are encouraged to look after and where there is also a willow nursery.

Secondly, the ticket gives admission to the gardens of Dirleton Castle, one of Scotland’s best preserved medieval fortresses, situated in the heart of the village and dating from the 13th century.