Traquair Forest Garden
The Project
The Traquair Forest Garden (TFG) is a multi-use space designed to host workshops, produce edible and non-edible materials, enhance biodiversity, and to be beautiful space people can rest and enjoy.
The TFG will facilitate skills training through volunteer days and workshops in gardening, food growing, foraging and outdoor crafts with a focus on local, traditional and climate friendly methods.
It is also a project that aims to build community and creating an accessible outdoor space that can be used to enjoy the wonders of nature.
About The Site
It is located within the grounds of Traquair House and has been unused for many years, but was a historically an old market garden with very fertile soil (17th-18th cent).
It is roughly by 80x40m which includes a polytunnel and an established ‘avenue’ of cherry trees.
In the past it was heavily shaded but storms have brought down several huge trees opening an opportunity for a viable community garden space.
In August 2025, we were awarded funding from the Growing Together Fund (Green Action Trust), which is being used for a deer fence to protect the site – allowing us to finally set up this new project.
Site Plan
To achieve our broad ambitions we have divided the site into three main areas each managed by a different local group.
The Workshop Area – Forge in the Forest
Will contain a tool shed, wood store, fire pit and workshop area. Built from materials on site.
The Vegetable Plot – Tweeddale Food Sovereignty
A no-dig approach utilising raised beds, this group will work alongside the TFG.
Herb and Berry Garden -Traquair Forest Garden Team
Using natural shapes and incorporating forest gardening methods, this area will be full of a wide array of edible and non-edible plants.
A Collaborative Model
Traquair Forest Garden would not be sustainable without local collaboration and so far we have managed to work alongside two other groups who share our aims and values.
Forge in the Forest – Run iron-age craft and skill workshops in the Peeblesshire area, on site they will be focusing running volunteer days as they build our workshop area.
Tweedale Food Sovereignty – A new group trying to strengthen the capacity and interest for local,organic food in Tweeddale with a focus on sustainable methods. With a long-term goal of starting a market garden, their veg plot is a tester site to workshop their ideas and gain more members.
Traquair Forest Garden Team – Driving the project development and managing the overall design for the site, securing funding opportunities and seeing what other expertise we can add to the site. As well as designing and planting the berry and herb garden.
Planting
As this is an ecologically minded garden we plan to keep it organic and are using the forest gardening method to guide us.
We’re aiming for an abundant, naturalistic looking space and so plant diversity is key! We are keen to include as many, native (Scotland, UK), heritage and wild species with multiple uses as we can and promote their benefits, value and restoration.
We will still grow a range of vegetables, use potted plants, and some interesting berry or herb varieties.
What we grow in greater quantities will feed into workshops on traditional skills, crafts, food growing, herbalism, plant ID and supporting biodiversity.
We might have bees in the future, inoculated mushroom logs and who knows what else!
