Dawyck Botanic Garden

The Scrape Burn within the gardens

Dawyck Botanic Garden is a botanic garden and arboretum in Peeblesshire, covering 62 acres. It is found at Stobo on the B712, 8 miles south of Peebles. The garden is situated in the Upper Tweed Valley, a 'National Scenic Area'.

Dawyck, with Logan Botanic Garden (near Stranraer) and Benmore Botanic Garden (near Dunoon), is an outpost or Regional Garden of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.

History

Dawyck Chapel within the gardens

The Veitch family planted the garden at Dawyck House in the 17th century until the Naesmith family took over in 1691. Sir John Murray Naesmith supported plant-hunting expeditions, especially those undertaken by the explorer and plant hunter David Douglas (1799–1834). In 1897 the Balfour family acquired the Dawyck Estate, and in 1978 they gave the Garden to the Royal Botanic Garden, with the exception of Dawyck House and chapel which remain in private use.

The private Dawyck Chapel, built in 1837, sits on the site of the ancient Dalwick Chapel within the gardens.

Views within the Botanic Gardens

• 
  Bark from a tree in the gardens
• 
  Douglas Firs and other mature conifers
• 
  One of the many pheasants within the grounds
• 
  A view from the Dutch Bridge

Heritage Trees of Scotland

Of the eleven "Heritage Trees of Scotland" in the Middle Shires, three are at Dawyck:

• The Dawyck Silver Fir is 115 feet in height, the trunk measures 5 ft 7 in, and its girth is 17 ft 9 in.
• The Dawyck Larch, planted 1725, girth 14.6 feet height {{convert|33|m|ft|0|x};
• The Dawyck Beech, planted 1860, has an unusual form with upswept branches.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Dawyck Botanic Garden)

• Location map: 55°36’11"N, 3°19’23"W
• Street map: NT168352
• Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh: Dawyck Botanic Garden
• PDF Map of Dawyck Botanic Garden
• ArchitectureScotland.uk: "Construction of Dawyck's visitor centre"
• Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) report on environmental sustainability features of Dawyck' visitor centre
• Gazetteer for Scotland: Dawyck Botanic Garden
• Forestry Commission's "Heritage Trees of Scotland": Dawyck silver fir

References

• Johnston, J. B. (1903). Place-names of Scotland. Edinburgh : David Douglas.