Castle of Mey Opens Jubilee Rose Garden

28th August 2012

The charity which runs The Castle of Mey, the Caithness home of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, celebrated the Diamond Jubilee and commemorated the 10th anniversary of HM The Queen Mother's passing by officially opening a new rose garden on Saturday 25th August.

The Diamond Jubilee Rose Garden, with flowers all specifically chosen by HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, is situated in the walled garden, which was a favourite place of Her Majesty The Queen Mother and her corgis. She regularly frequented the Shell Garden on her visits to her Caithness home.

The new garden will be full of blooming roses of all sizes and colours, and is a fitting tribute of the anniversary of the Gathering of The Queen Mother as well as the important milestone of the Diamond Jubilee.

Ashe Windham, Chairman of The Castle of Mey Trust comments: "2012 has been an important year in the history of the Royal family as well as the Castle of Mey and we are delighted that we have been able to commemorate such important milestones with such fitting tributes - our new Rose Garden and our exhibition. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother bought the Castle of Mey in 1952, and the castle, as well as the gardens, had been neglected for some years. However, The Queen Mother's dedication to the building as well as her passion for gardening ensured that life within and outwith the Castle thrived. We are proud to have continued the work that was started here 60 years ago with as much pride, love and hard work as there has ever been. "

From 1962, head gardener James Sinclair began work in restoring the gardens to their full glory. Sandy Webster continued the work and then, in 2000, Grant Napier became head gardener. Gradually and successfully he adapted the gardens so that there is now more for the visitors to enjoy during the season when the gardens are open to the public.

Gardening Consultant Day Howden now gives regular input to help with extending the season and in 2011, Olga Ridley took over and as an experienced and passionate plantswoman has continued to make great progress. Olga, says: "We are delighted to be opening the new Diamond Jubilee Rose Garden for our visitors to enjoy and appreciate. Being based in the most northerly point of Scotland does give us challenges when choosing plants and getting them to successfully grow, but through picking the right flowers and our own perseverance anything is possible! The Queen Mother even managed to nurture her favourite old rose, Albertine, into scented abundance behind the Great Wall of Mey and this rose, along with a host of beautiful blooms chosen by HRH Prince Charles will all be part of our new Rose Garden."

The Diamond Jubilee Rose Garden is the second tribute made by the Castle and the Trust, which has already launched an exclusive exhibition of photographs of HM The Queen Mother within Caithness and The Castle of Mey as well as displaying exclusive images and memorabilia from the 1952 Coronation.

The exhibition, which was curated by Christine Shearer - and is housed in Chauffeur's Cottage near the Castle - has already been a popular addition with the Castle's visitors.

The Diamond Jubilee Rose Garden, along with the exhibition, is dedicated to the memory of the much-loved owner of The Castle of Mey, who, over a period of fifty years, bought the building and the gardens back to life. Her Majesty's legacy lives on through the Trust and thanks to the annual visits to the Castle of HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay and the North Highland Initiative, which he launched in August 2005 to promote and develop the economy and to support the rural communities of the North Highlands.