OUR PEOPLE

Sadly we lost Tansy our 18 year old cat last autumn. Her job has been taken on by two black and white 5 year old brothers who arrived from a farm via the Cat Protection League. They take their duties of customer service and vermin control (not related we assure you!!) very seriously. Basil and Dill look forward to your visit and can often be found in their basket on the information desk… but don’t fall for their stories about needing to be fed!

Our Garden Centre started life in the Walled Garden at Hopetoun House in 1978. Dougal Philip's garden at the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival - The Life and Loves of Hardy Perennials - put the business on the map. Lesley Watson - well known as a presenter on the Beechgrove Garden Television programme - has worked with Dougal since that time. They designed and built, with the rest of the team, three award winning show gardens and one petit garden at the three National Gardening Shows run by the Royal Horticultural Society - all designed to inspire visitors to try something similar in their own gardens.

We relocated to New Hopetoun Gardens in 1998 and we still have the same overriding aim of helping people to enjoy their gardens more. Customer care, and helping them select the best plants and products for their gardens, is central to this aim - we have 9 members of staff holding the Horticultural Trades Association's Retail Plant Care Award and 5 holding the Retail Shop Care Award. Our friendly, qualified team are always happy to welcome you to New Hopetoun Gardens and to help you solve any gardening problems you may have.Ê Mornings and weekdays are quieter and therefore easier to get your share of their time!

Our Tearoom team are equally delighted to welcome you into the Orangery and to tempt you with their culinary treats. They are not necessarily so good at answering your gardening questions, although they all know a member of staff who could!