Scotland’s Gardens Scheme was founded in 1931 to raise money for the Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland, to help support the Queen’s Nurses, before the creation of the National Health Service.

The charity raises funds for hundreds of charities each year, powered by amazing teams of volunteers and garden owners around Scotland, through garden gate tickets, plants sales and teas.

Airlie was built in the 15th century as a fortified castle. It sits on a promontory high above the Rivers Melgum and Isla. The gorge below is a Site of Special Scientific Interest because it contains rare lichen and wildflowers.

The 18th-century walled garden grows fruit, flowers and vegetables and it is intersected by mature yew and box topiary. Within the castle walls itself, there are two herbaceous borders and a large Kiftsgate rose and climbing wisteria.

In large areas of the policies the grass has been left to grow long, and as a consequence of this, many varieties of native wild orchid have reappeared. A woodland walk leads down from the castle and gardens to the River Isla.

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