Barnhill Rock Garden

[Image: Barnhill Rock Garden]

The rock garden is situated on part of a former nine-hole golf course, which was laid out after the Dundee to Aberdeen railway was built more than a century ago. When the Esplanade was constructed in 1895, the course was established, on advice from golfer Tom Morris, with four holes west of Bridge Street - now the Rock Garden - and five holes to the east.

The course was completed in 1896 and cost a grand total of £80. The last visible reminder of the course, the former clubhouse of the Broughty Ferry Ladies Golf Club, was demolished following a fire in 1993.

The garden was started in 1955 by clearing an area of volcanic rock which had at one time been the old shore line. Over the years, it was extended eastwards over areas which had been sand dunes, and rock from Carmylie Quarry was used to form a large part of the garden. There were originally five natural springs and the lowest pond is the site of one of these, the others having dried up in 1976. The lower ponds were created in 1982 and the upper ponds in 1985. They have separate water circulating systems.

Plants have come from many sources. The Friends of Barnhill Rock Garden have donated seeds and cuttings, and the Scottish Rock Garden Club and Dundee Botanic Garden have also made generous donations to create a "geographical" theme to reflect the many countries from which the plants originated.

The Friends of the Barnhill Rock Garden is a formally constituted body with charitable status and acts as a support group, liaising with Dundee City Council's Leisure and Communities Department on issues relating to the well-being of the garden.

The Friends support the garden with financial help to provide seed, bulbs and plants to ensure the future of the long-established collection of plant material from all corners of the world. They also carry out various gardening activities throughout the year and maintain a number of borders which would otherwise be lost to cultivation. Although this kind of help is encouraged and appreciated, it is not a condition of membership!

Membership is open to all and the current annual family subscription of £7 enables members to take part in a varied programme of garden visits, garden-related talks and workshops. The Rock Garden is on the Scottish Tourist Board tourist trail and is open to the public at all times.

If you would like to join the Friends and help their efforts to maintain and promote this special garden, please contact the group directly.

Combine a visit to the garden with seal-watching or bird-watching while enjoying beautiful views across the River Tay.

There are picnic tables and seats, and toilet facilities are nearby. There are no entrance fees.

There is easy car parking and the garden is only minutes walk from the nearest bus stop.

This information is provided by the Leisure and Communities Department