COLUMNIST: KAREN STEWART-RUSSELL
It is exciting to see Dundee grow as a destination for avid gardeners and plant enthusiasts, and I recently had the pleasure of attending the opening of the HMS Unicorn Bicentenary Garden.
HMS Unicorn, an impressive 46 gun frigate launched in 1824, is the oldest ship in Scotland and one of the oldest still afloat in the world. The ship itself is a joy to visit, alive with history and atmosphere, and its Bicentenary Garden aims to celebrate and share the healing power of plants and their maritime history.
In a project funded by The Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research (WCAIR) at the University of Dundee, the build involved a committed group of volunteers, all keen to be part of HMS Unicorn’s future and passionate about improving the appearance of the docks and city quay. The volunteers will come together to tackle the ongoing maintenance with the support of the Volunteering, Learning, and Outreach team.
The garden is made up of a series of planters, some reminiscent of old tea chests. At the opening, it was still early in the year to see the planting at its best but it is already clear to see how it will lift the quayside with colour and life.
The beautifully engraved information boards feature art by Declan McCourt and tell the story of the medicinal plants regularly used in maritime history. I brought home a fascinating booklet, also by Declan, brimming full of interesting information about so many plants and the ailments they would have been used to treat.
An eye opener was the use of Yew (Taxus baccata) to treat indigestion and many other maladies - highly poisonous, it likely killed more than it cured, definitely one I won’t be trying! On a safer note, St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), still commonly used today as a tool to lift low mood, was used in a very similar way many years ago but also for the treatment of cuts and burns.
It was interesting to see many plants featured that I grow in my apothecary patch at home and gave me some inspiration for what to add. I look forward to a return visit once the garden is in full bloom to see these fascinating healing plants in this wonderfully inspiring new garden.
Karen Stewart-Russell lives in the heart of rural Fife. Passionate about the mental health benefits of gardening, she loves to share the joy of growing through her garden wall seed, plant, and book library. Karen has a relaxed, wildlife friendly garden, full of flowers, and is a huge fan of roses. Her latest project is an apothecary garden as her enthusiasm for utilising herbs and useful flowers grows. Follow her on Instagram, or tune in to the Scotland Grows Show to hear more from Karen.