NATIONAL TRUST FOR SCOTLAND
Greenbank was built in the 1760s for Robert Allason, a merchant in the tobacco and slave trades, who purchased Flenders Farm, land his family had worked for centuries, and established the house and walled garden. Over the next two centuries the house changed hands several times until it was bought in 1962 by William Blyth and his wife, who transformed the productive walled garden from a predominantly fruit and vegetable growing space to the ornamental gardens seen today.
In 1976 the estate was bequeathed to the National Trust for Scotland in request that the gardens be used for educational purposes, resulting in planting designed to inspire urban gardeners featuring more than 3,700 named species of plants.
Dividing the walled garden into a dozen discrete rooms are high hedges, shrubs, and tall plants, giving each space its own character as the seasons change. The spring, summer, and cottage gardens fade seamlessly into the autumn walk, and the foliage and winter gardens, with perfectly clipped topiary, give structure and interest all year round.
The centre of the garden is marked by an impressive sundial dating back to 1695, whilst judiciously placed benches encourage visitors to linger a little longer to appreciate the tranquility of the gardens marked in the background by the soothing sound of the fountain featuring Charles d’Orville Pilkington Jackson’s beautiful bronze sculpture of a water sprite, ‘Foam’.
With a National Collection of Bergenia, commonly called elephant’s ears, to view, it is well worth an autumnal visit to see the foliage colours of Bergenia ‘Wintermarchen’, B. cordifolia ‘Robusta’, B. ‘Sunningdale’ and B. purpurascens ‘Irish Crimson’.
The Acer griseum and Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Brilliantissimum’ are worth discovering for their magnificent autumnal colour and there are spectacular specimens of the corkscrew hazel, Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’, and golden pine, Pinus sylvestris ‘Aurea’, looking stunning in September.
If there are plantings which catch the eye, visitors can make use of the large encyclopaedia of plants located in the delicious tea room to identify more unusual species. A stroll through the 16 acres of woodland is also recommended, an area which offers a myriad of child and dog friendly walks amongst groves of soaring oak, beech, sycamore, hawthorn, elder, and lime.
The garden is also well worth a spring visit to witness the cherry blossom avenue of Prunus avium ‘Plena’, planted in 1921. Look out too for the gorgeous Magnolia stellata, with its white star-shaped flowers, across the main lawn. And of course, from early spring onwards will find the white, pink, and red flowers of the Bergenia in bloom, as well as a carpet of vibrant bluebells and hundreds of varieties of daffodil.
Greenbank Garden is home to one of Scotland’s most impressive daffodil collections with over 500 varieties carefully tended by the team of gardeners and volunteers.
The legacy of Greenbank’s daffodils dates back to owner Major William Dunlop Hamilton who begun planting them in the woodland dell in the 1930s. His passion for Narcissus became a topic of conversation among local people, who were shocked to learn the Major would spend as much as £15 on just one bulb – the equivalent of around £550 today!
Major Hamilton’s planting laid the foundation for what has become a cherished feature of this 18th-century garden, enjoyed by visitors today right through springtime. Subsequent gardeners have sought to build upon the historic collection, and have added many different varieties in the walled garden and in the woodland. Trust gardeners have aimed to broaden the collection and add modern varieties so that visitors can experience the widest range of daffodil types.
From the classic ‘King Alfred’ to rare treasures like Narcissus ‘Telamonius Plenus’, you will find daffodils of all colours, shapes, and sizes.
Head Gardener Andrew Hinson said, “On a good year, the flowering season for daffodils could be from the end of January all the way until late May - and then we do have the occasional September flowering daffodils from different climates that flower in the glasshouse as well.
"The garden for Greenbank has a downward slope, and the frost actually gets stuck in the garden a little bit, which makes it quite cold in winter, but helps preserve daffodils and their blooms for a little bit longer, which allows a better show than most typical gardens.”
The number of healthy bulbs in the garden at Greenbank has declined over time, and the goal of the National Trust for Scotland is to bring back the spring blanket of daffodils that once covered the garden and woodland by planting 50,000 bulbs. Over time, these bulbs will naturalise, which should double the display to 100,000 daffodils. It costs just £15 to plant 50 daffodils. Could you help the National Trust by donating a daffodil today?
By donating a daffodil, you will not only preserve Greenbank’s botanical heritage but you will also support the garden’s ecosystem. These daffodils will promote sustainability and improve biodiversity as the lawn will be mown less frequently, reducing the use of petrol-powered equipment. They will also provide vital nectar for pollinators and support local wildlife like butterflies and birds.
Whether you can visit Greenbank Garden soon or whether you are supporting from afar, your generosity will make a lasting impact. Donate a daffodil today and be a part of this blooming legacy.
For donations of £15 and above, the National Trust for Scotland will send you a small information booklet featuring some of their favourite daffodils at Greenbank Garden as a thank you.
Address: Greenbank Garden, Flenders Road, Glasgow G76 8RB. On site parking is available with disabled parking adjacent to the reception.
There is so much to discover across Scotland in National Trust gardens: plan your trip today by visiting nts.org.uk.
