Introduction
Cluny Community Walled Garden (SC054112) is a community-led charitable organisation working to restore and revitalise the historic Victorian walled garden, set within the beautiful Cluny Estate, for public benefit.
Together, we’re transforming this once-productive garden into an inclusive, inspiring space for growing food, learning new skills, nurturing wellbeing, and building connection across our community.
We’re at the very beginning of this exciting journey — and we invite you to grow it with us.
History
Built between 1836 and 1840, the walled garden at Cluny Castle is a remarkable example of Victorian garden design, originally created to provide fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers for the estate. Constructed primarily of brick with granite detailing, the garden features a high north wall—ideal for sheltering plants from Scotland’s weather—and retains historical elements such as glasshouse remnants, a potting shed, and neo-classical weep holes.
Walled gardens were a hallmark of 17th–19th century Scottish estates, offering a microclimate where even tender fruits like pineapples (prized on the dining table as an exhibit when entertaining), figs and peaches could thrive. They symbolised both status and self-sufficiency, and Cluny’s garden would have been both ornamental and highly productive.
In its heyday, the garden’s produce was so abundant and wholesome that it was sent by train to the Gordon family’s Edinburgh home. Stories from a former apprentice gardener reflect the garden’s role not just as a place of work, but of memory, tradition, and community.
Though time has left its mark—overgrown borders, fading paths, and weathered walls—the garden still holds extraordinary potential. Today, we are clearing the way for a new beginning, one that honours its history while creating a space shaped by and for the community.
The Project
The Cluny Community Walled Garden project is a bold and hopeful initiative to bring new life to a once-thriving Victorian garden nestled within the Cluny Castle Estate in Aberdeenshire.
With the support of the Cluny Estate, the garden has been leased to our community group for a period of 20 years, giving us the opportunity — and the responsibility — to restore this historic space for shared use, learning, and wellbeing.
Where We Are Now
We’re at the beginning. Since forming our charity in early 2025, we’ve been focused on building the foundations for success:
• Developing a draft activity plan with ideas for education, wellbeing, and heritage workshops
• Undertaking vital surveys and planning work to assess infrastructure needs (walls, access, water, facilities)
• Launching our first fundraising efforts to cover early-stage costs
This isn’t just about plants and paths — it’s about people, purpose, and participation.
What We’re Growing Towards
We envision a thriving, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable garden that offers:
• Community-designed growing spaces for fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers
• Educational workshops on gardening, biodiversity, sustainability, and traditional skills
• Opportunities for connection and support through volunteering and group activities
• A peaceful, welcoming environment to support mental health and wellbeing
• Seasonal events, creative projects, and intergenerational learning
This garden will be shaped by the community, for the community — with everyone welcome to take part.
How You Can Help
Whether you're a local resident, a potential partner, or someone who simply believes in the power of green spaces, we invite you to be part of this journey.
Volunteer, donate, spread the word — or just follow along as we grow something special together.
Support Us
The Cluny Community Walled Garden is just beginning its journey — and we need your support to bring it to life.
Tucked within historic walls, this space holds the promise of becoming a vibrant, inclusive garden where people can connect with nature, grow food together, and find moments of peace, learning, and community.
Right now, we’re laying the groundwork — quite literally. Your donation will help us begin the transformation: clearing the space, enriching the soil, planting the first seeds, and creating the foundations for a place that everyone can enjoy.
With your help, we can:
• Reclaim and restore the garden space
• Repair historic walls and pathways
• Purchase tools, soil, and seeds for planting
• Begin building a welcoming space for everyone
Every gift, no matter the size, helps turn this vision into reality. Together, we can grow something extraordinary — from the ground up.
Donate Today
Be part of the beginning. Help us grow the Cluny Community Walled Garden.
About
Cluny Community Walled Garden is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO No. SC054112), formed in January 2025 and officially registered in April 2025. We are a community-led charity working to restore and sympathetically reimagine the historic Victorian walled garden as a vibrant, inclusive community space.
The garden has been secured on a 20-year lease from the Cluny Estate, reflecting a shared commitment to making this special place accessible, productive, and community-driven for the long term.
We believe in the power of gardens to bring people together — to grow food, friendships, knowledge, and wellbeing.
Who We Are
Our organisation is governed by a Board of Trustees (4 members), supported by a Committee of 7 additional volunteers, each bringing a rich mix of experience in community development, gardening, education, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability.
Together, we are laying the groundwork for a project rooted in collaboration, heritage, and care for people and planet.
New committee members and volunteers are always welcome and they can apply to the secretary for a membership form.
Our Charitable Purpose
Our constitution outlines four key charitable aims:
• Environmental protection and improvement
Promote sustainable gardening, biodiversity, and awareness of food systems.
• Citizenship and community development
Create a garden planned and managed by the community, open to all, encouraging participation, volunteering, and food-sharing initiatives.
• Advancement of education
Offer hands-on learning through workshops, gardening skills, and intergenerational teaching opportunities.
• Recreation and wellbeing
Provide a welcoming space for outdoor activity, social connection, and improved mental health — particularly for those in rural or isolated communities.
Our Vision
We aim to transform Cluny’s historic walled garden into a self-sustaining community space — a space to grow food, cultivate knowledge, foster inclusion, and connect with nature.
From school groups to older adults, beginner gardeners to experienced growers, our vision is a garden where everyone belongs and every voice helps shape its future.
Contact
Whether you're curious about the Cluny Community Walled Garden, interested in volunteering, want to collaborate, or just want to say hello — we’re here and happy to connect.
As we begin the exciting journey of bringing this space to life, your ideas, questions, and support help us shape the garden into the Community Garden that you envisage.
01467 642472
info@clunycommunitywalledgarden.co.uk
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