Brodie Castle's head gardener releases free instructional videos on YouTube
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE HEAD gardener on the sprawling estate of a local ancestral home is offering horticultural tips.
Brodie Castle's chief groundsman, Ed Walling, has created a series of internet videos with instruction on making displays and planting vegetables.
He said: "I always like to be able to help. Normally I’m helping the visitors enjoying the grounds as they ask a lot of questions and I’m always giving friends and family tips too. It’s great to be able to pass on my knowledge and advice to people whilst we are all in isolation."
The beautifully landscaped grounds at Brodie Castle, which is owned and cared for by National Trust for Scotland, continue to flourish with over 100 varieties of its famous daffodils in full bloom.
Ed lives on site and while the property is closed to the public, he continues to carry out essential maintenance on the garden.
He said: "All National Trust for Scotland properties have closed to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This hasn’t stopped us from sharing amazing stories of the history of the castle and the Brodie family online and we’re glad that we’re able to share videos like these. We’re really looking forward to welcoming visitors again once restrictions are lifted."
In his videos, Ed takes viewers behind the scenes around the historic Morayshire estate and gives viewers a guide on how to make a spring hanging basket.
He also goes to Brodie Castle’s vegetable garden to give his top tips for planting brassicas - cabbage, kale, broccoli and brussels sprouts.
Ed is originally from Chelmsford and started his career with the Royal Horticultural Society at Hyde Hall in Essex as one of its first apprentices. He worked with different teams learning industry standards while studying the RHS Diploma at the Writtle University College on day release.
Ed has also completed courses in arboriculture and is a qualified tree climber. After many years training, landscaping and gaining tree works experience, he started as Brodie Castle’s head gardener in April, 2018.
He said: "I love the fact that no day is ever the same and there’s always something that needs to be done. My team covers such a wide range of responsibilities, from reinstating part of a designed landscape to maintaining the wonderful Brodie National Daffodil collection."
See the videos at https://youtu.be/jnZo_sRfdME and https://youtu.be/AJzKNLKYwUs.
For more information on Brodie Castle, visit https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/brodie-castle.
