We are hugely excited to announce Gordon Castle Walled Garden as our main venue for the Forum 2025, and so grateful to owner Zara Gordon Lennox for inviting us back to Scotland for the 24th year of the WKGN and to hold the Forum in this magnificent restored kitchen garden, winner of Historic Houses Garden of the Year 2021, and RHS Partner Garden, regional winner in Scotland 2024.
Situated between the River Spey and the Moray Coast, Gordon Castle Walled Garden is among Scotland’s best-kept secrets, one of the oldest and largest Kitchen Gardens in Britain brought back to its former glory, with a modern design by designer Arne Maynard with Zara and Angus Gordon Lennox and then head gardener Ed Bollom.
We will be at Gordon Castle Walled Garden on Saturday 20th September, to consider the theme this year, looking at restoration of historic walled kitchen gardens, this time in Scotland, and how they relate to needs in the 21st century, while also recognising the vital importance of the craft skills involved in bringing these places back to life and into production.
On Friday 19th September, we are visiting three hugely important restored gardens of the National Trust of Scotland in Aberdeenshire, with grateful thanks to Chris Wardle (Garden and Designed Landscape Manager, Aberdeenshire and Angus) – Castle Fraser, Pitmeddon and Fyvie Castle, and looking forwards to meeting the head gardeners and teams at each.
Our Speakers will include:
Zara Gordon Lennox – will take us through the 10 years of research and work at Gordon Castle, taking an empty field to fully restored Walled Garden.
Nick Dunn VMH – the Forum coincides with the UNESCO World Day for the Art of Espalier (20/09/25) and to celebrate the day and skill behind the craft involved, and we are so pleased to have Nick with us. He has spent over 50 years establishing Frank P Matthews’ reputation for exceptional British trees across the UK and beyond.
Chris Wardle – who will introduce us to the NTS gardens portfolio. Chris is also going to be with us at the three gardens on the 19th.
BOOKING IS NOW OPEN – please register using the form here: