A new head gardener and executive head chef have been appointed at a Moray tourist attraction.
Horticulturalist John Hawley has joined the team at Gordon Castle Walled Garden, in Fochabers, while John Morrison will take up his post at the walled garden cafe.
The 8.5 acre, Arne Maynard-designed garden, has recently undergone a substantial revamp.
It provides fresh produce for the Castle Estate, the walled garden café and shop and for the new and unique range of Gordon Castle Scotland products.
These include Gordon Castle Gin, which contains botanicals grown in the garden, and is now stocked in Harrods and Fortnum & Mason.
Mr Hawley, who is relocating from Cumbria where he was head gardener at Hardwich Hall, in Derbyshire, said:Â “I have been looking for the next challenge in my horticultural career for some time and when I heard about the opportunity at Gordon Castle I knew I had to take a look.
“It’s not often you get the chance to – almost – build a garden from scratch and with such a magnificent design already in place, I am going to love helping bring it all together.”
Angus Gordon Lennox, owner of Gordon Castle, said: “We are all thrilled that John is joining the team.
“His wealth of experience, demonstrable passion for horticulture and excitement at the challenge of continuing to create the garden here at Gordon Castle, will stand him in great stead.
“This year marks an important year for moving the garden forward.
“Now that our cafe and shop are open, and the bare bones of the garden design are in place, we are keen to get on with finishing the structure and filling the beds to give our visitors an additional experience unique to our estate.”
Mr Morrison will be responsible for overseeing the menu in the walled garden cafe, which focuses on seasonal produce grown in the garden.
He was previously head chef at Durn House in Portsoy and has also worked at the Seafield Arms, in Whitehills, and The Barn Restaurant, in Elgin.
A new children’s play area is also due to open to the public this year.
The attraction incorporates the trunk of a 270-year-old ash tree, felled during the winter storms of 2013, as the central climbing frame.