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Brodie Castle's Playful Garden is welcoming families again


By Garry McCartney

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Hamish Ferrie (3) and sister Nola (5) sliding down by the bunny.
Hamish Ferrie (3) and sister Nola (5) sliding down by the bunny.

A local tourist attraction has re-opened after being closed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The National Trust for Scotland's (NTS) Playful Garden at Brodie Castle, featuring Scotland’s biggest bunny sculpture, fun characters, musical instruments and sensory areas, opened on Saturday, August 1 and is welcoming visitors again for the first time since March.

At the listening dish are (left) Caleb (5) and Brodie (7) Burkowski.
At the listening dish are (left) Caleb (5) and Brodie (7) Burkowski.

NTS chief executive, Phil Long OBE, said: "We were delighted with the attendance on the opening weekend, with over 500 visitors from Scotland and England, 320 of whom were NTS members.

"It’s fantastic that we’re now able to reopen playparks such as Brodie's and our brilliant visitor centres including at Culloden. At this time of year, our visitor centres are usually packed with tourists learning about Scotland’s fascinating history and while we won’t be expecting many international visitors, we do hope to see more people from across the country discovering our places and learning about the work we do."

All re-opened NTS properties have been fully prepared in terms of safety precautions, including providing hand sanitising stations, social distancing throughout, one way systems and equipping staff with visors.

The Playful Garden at Brodie meets the 'We’re Good To Go’ Covid-19 industry standard and consumer mark.

Brodie caterers Jo Currie and Clare Johnston.
Brodie caterers Jo Currie and Clare Johnston.

Mr Long said: "Our teams have worked extremely hard to make the necessary adjustments at properties to keep visitors and staff safe. We ask anyone visiting to please stick to the latest guidance on hand hygiene and social distancing."

The National Trust for Scotland has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic, losing £28 million in essential income. The charity is running the Save Our Scotland appeal to raise £2.5 million to help the Trust continue its vital work to protect Scotland’s built and natural heritage.

Check www.nts.org.uk for latest information on all properties and to donate to the SOS appeal, go to www.nts.org.uk/campaigns/emergency-appeal.

"The support for the appeal will help our charity to recover from the impact of coronavirus," said Mr Long, "and to get back to doing what it does on everyone’s behalf, including reopening many of our most loved places."

Arthur Colbert (6) playing a xylophone.
Arthur Colbert (6) playing a xylophone.
Rowena Eales and sons Alfie (2) and Reuben (5) on musical instruments.
Rowena Eales and sons Alfie (2) and Reuben (5) on musical instruments.
Twins Gavin and Daniel Guthrie (9) and Grace Gilmore (5) on the big chair.
Twins Gavin and Daniel Guthrie (9) and Grace Gilmore (5) on the big chair.


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