August is the perfect time to visit this remarkable Aberdeenshire garden, writes Susan Welsh
It’s not just the fantastic views towards Bennachie, or the sensory gardens and art and craft workshops, that make a visit to the Pitscurry Project special.
What makes this garden, next to Pitcaple Quarry, so distinctive is that the project provides training and day services for adults with learning disabilities from across the Aberdeenshire area.
It is also a community garden and works closely with a number of local schools.
The project is owned and run by Aberdeenshire Council in partnership with Pitcaple Environmental Project.
Along with the sensory gardens, facilities on the seven-acre site include polytunnels and greenhouses, art and craft workshops, and a training cafe.
August is one of the nicest times of the year to visit Pitscurry.
Leaving the car park at the top of the garden, visitors pass a tree trail with a number of specimen trees including, Hemlock and Noble Fir.
Farther along, there are the polytunnels where they grow raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries and blueberries which are in full fruit at this time of year.
In an adjacent tunnel, you will find lettuce, fennel, carrots, onions and shallots, among other vegetables.
One of the tunnels has been planted carefully to come a sensory world and has a water feature, and a variety of aromatic climbers including jasmine, honeysuckle and hops.
The main vegetable garden has been fenced and netted recently, because of the problem with deer and rabbits.
Despite the best attempts of the animals, those gardening here manage to grow blackcurrants, gooseberries, stick kale, leeks, turnips, tatties, onions, beetroot and a variety of salad crops.
The majority of the fruit and vegetables are used to supply the onsite cafe, but members of the public are welcome to visit the garden and buy produce to take home.
The site also includes a heritage garden, where heathers such as Springwood White and Valerie Proudly, bordered by tumbling drystane dykes, grow happily.
Among the heathers there are metal sculptures of sheep, trees and flowers, designed and made in the workshops at the garden.
A stream meanders through this part of the garden down to the lily pond and wildlife area, where can be spotted damselflies and butterflies.
After a walk around the garden, the next stop is the cafe, where you can have lunch or “coffee and a fine piece”.
The Buzzard Café , which has a sedum roof, endeavours to use much of the garden’s produce, which means the food is always deliciously fresh.
From the cafe, there are fabulous views of Bennachie to be enjoyed.
Immediately below the cafe, there’s a community garden under construction. A number of schools in the area are helping with this and it’s hoped further groups will offer assistance.
The last stop on the tour is a visit to the main building where visitors can view work in progress by service users, where garden furniture, bird towers, metal sheep sculptures, cards and pottery are made.
Fact box
Where: Pitscurry Project, Whiteford, Pitcaple, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire AB51 5DY.
Directions: Next to Pitcaple Quarry, which is signposted from most local junctions. Be wary of using postcode in a satnav as it covers a number of properties.
When: Saturday, August 2, until Sunday, August 10, from 10am-3pm.
Admission: £4. The garden is wheelchair friendly and homemade teas are available.
Charity: Pitcaple Environmental Project receives 40%, the net remaining to Scotland’s Gardens beneficiary charities.
Contact: www.pitcaple.org.uk