News
| Garden gives a taste of the wild |
| 02/06/2006 |
| 2nd June 2006 Garden gives a taste of the wild MEDIA INVITE AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITY FOR FREE TASTING, WITH RHONA BRANKIN, DEPUTY ENVIRONMENT MINISTER: SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS Rose cake, lavender bread and marigold salad could once again be on the menu thanks to an innovative garden project showcased today at the Gardening Scotland Show. The Garden for Life village, which is funded by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Executive, features a show garden with plants eaten and used by both people and wildlife. A Taste for Wildlife garden suggests growing plants for our food which also benefit birds and insects. Marjoram and mint, for example, are some of our most traditional herbs used for cooking, but they are also favourites with butterflies. Bees are attracted to lavender flowers, other insects are attracted to roses, marigold or nasturtium flowers, and rosemary, parsley and thyme; while birds favour rowan, apple and birch trees. Speaking from the Garden for Life Village Deputy Environment Minister Rhona Brankin commented: “The Garden for Life is an exciting new addition to the Gardening Scotland Exhibition, demonstrating just how important gardens are for both humans and wildlife. I am impressed by the originality, skill and knowledge of the Scottish companies exhibiting here today. “Gardens are a haven for wildlife and biodiversity encouraging species to thrive. They also promote the wellbeing of Scotland’s people through creating greenspaces for relaxation and enjoyment. I would encourage individuals with access even to a small garden do their bit to encourage wildlife and help the environment, and improve their health at the same time by growing healthy food. “ Garden designer, Heath Brown, of BTCV, explained: “What makes our garden so special is that all the plants - flowers as well as vegetables - can provide food: some for people, some for insects, and some for birds. We want to show people that they can have it all: a beautiful, easy-to-maintain garden that’s people, and wildlife-friendly. The garden has been created thanks to a lot of hard work put in by volunteers from BTCV.” Tess Darwin, of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), said: “The Garden for Life project was set up to show people throughout Scotland just how much can be achieved, even in a small garden, for the benefit of both human and animal health. A lot of plants have little or no benefit to wildlife, but by growing plants which also attract wildlife you can make a significant difference to the animals in your area, as well as creating a natural, healthy food source. By adding in features like a pond, which will attract toads and newts, you can help to control pest species like slugs naturally.” Gardening Scotland Chairman and Beechgrove Gardener Jim McColl welcomed Rhona Brankin to visit the site: "Gardening Scotland is the perfect and natural home for the Garden For Life and I'm delighted to guide the Minister around the village and the rest of the Show today. We are all rather excited about creating the Garden for Life Village. As the name implies it incorporates a range of complementary initiatives from organic gardening to biological controls form care of the environment to the destruction of non native species. All of it creates a very powerful message about our responsibility to care for our own environment. "The focus of Garden for Life Village is designed to enlighten all our visitors about green issues in the garden and biodiversity in Scotland at large. I hope there really is something for everyone - young and old - to learn." Gardens are becoming increasingly important wildlife havens, as our native Scottish habitats are impacted by development and intensive farming. The Garden for Life Project, which includes a range of environmental and health organisations, encourages people to help reverse this trend by gardening with wildlife in mind. That means including native species in planting schemes, using peat-free composts, and avoiding the use of pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals. The result should be healthier for people too. The Garden for Life Village includes the show garden, as well as a series of stands from a variety of organisations involved in the project. Experts on all aspects of organic, peat-free and environmentally-friendly gardening will be available to give advice to visitors who want to find out more. Garden for Life supports key objectives in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, which has been developed to identify the best ways to protect our country’s most threatened wildlife and habitats. For more information about Garden for Life visit www.snh.org.uk Gardening Scotland is held at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh from Friday 2 June to Sunday 4 June. Tel 0906 701 2000. For more information look up www.gardeningscotland.com The media are invited to a photocall and interview opportunity at 10:45 am with Rhona Brankin, deputy environment minister, who will try lavender bread, marigold salad and rose cake. The event will be held at the Garden for Life, stand 270 (behind the Beechgrove Theatre). Please note you will need a media pass to get in to Gardening Scotland, which is available by asking security to contact the organisers of the show, or by contacting Agnes Stevenson on Tel: 07766 742142. For media information about the food tasting photocall, recipes of the products tasted, and Garden for Life, please contact Sarah Roe, National Press and PR officer, SNH Tel: 0131 446 2270 m: 07787 836010 |