National Trust for Scotland launches storm damage appeal

The National Trust for Scotland has launched an appeal for urgent public support to help fund repairs to badly storm-damaged historic gardens and buildings.

The damage, which could cost thousands of pounds to restore, is the result of January’s stormy weather which has taken its toll on some of Scotland’s best loved historic buildings and gardens under the Trust’s care.

Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park on the Isle of Arran has experienced some of the worst garden damage and the magnificent 1805 built Hutchesons’ Hall in the centre of Glasgow, has had to be temporarily closed for storm repairs.

Around a dozen gardens and designed landscapes in the care of The National Trust for Scotland, succumbed to the exceptionally bad weather. Signature trees have been lost at Culzean Castle, Inverewe Gardens and Crarae Garden and The David Livingstone Centre at Blantyre. The only Rhododendron magnificum is destroyed from Arduaine Garden near Oban, and a great Monterey Pine lies across the Heron Pond.

Brodick Castle, Garden and Country Park has sustained considerable damage, and access to the Ranger Centre has been blocked by a hanging tree and Abies, beech and larch have snapped and fallen.

Commenting on the widespread storm damage, Michael Hunter, Properties and Visitor Services Director told Reckless: “We do everything we can to protect the fabric of our buildings, under a planned repair programme, but many are in very exposed and remote places where weather conditions can be very bad. We also carry out tree-surgery and plant shelter screening in the gardens and countryside. We do insure our buildings and contents against damage wherever we reasonably can, but we have millions of trees and plants which cannot be insured but the knock on effects can continue for weeks and months, with staff stretched beyond their normal duties.”

The charity’s appeal is asking for donations of £35 to help mend the damage to some of Scotland’s favorite visitor attractions.

Lorna Stoddart, the Trust’s Director of Development, who is responsible for the charity’s appeals added: “Extraordinary events call for extraordinary acts. The Trust’s staff are making every possible effort to ensure that these beautiful buildings and gardens are safe and that no further damage will be sustained but such is the depth of this storm damage, we need help to achieve this. Time is not on our side if we are to catch up with the damage caused by winds in excess of 70mph. We have to act now.”