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SAC Students Take a Breather - Hard Work Wins a Bronze Medal for their “Breathing Garden Design” at Gardening Scotland

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N67
Published: 03 Jun 2011

The Breathing Garden leaflet (opens in new window)

A garden designed to improve urban air quality and help asthma sufferers gained eight SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Garden Design students a Gardening Scotland Bronze Medal. Designer Janette Laidlaw, a mature SAC student from Collinton said she was a little disappointed but delighted with the reaction of visitors to the Show Gardens at Ingliston.

“We knew we were taking a gamble”, she said. “By choosing only the plants recommended by Asthma UK we restricted our palette, but the whole point of the design was a garden with as little impact on those with allergies or breathing difficulties as possible. Why can’t they enjoy nature?”

The team had worked hard, designing, fabricating, building and planting- out a quiet and relaxing space for city dwellers. They were particularly anxious to promote the planting of more trees in small urban gardens.

“Everyone can play their part in improving the air quality of our towns and cities,” said project manager Anna Graham. Another mature student, she lives in lives in Penicuik.

“Perhaps the judges thought we should have chosen tree species more commonly used in urban regeneration schemes. But we selected slow growing, small trees best suited to the small spaces most of us have. By planting more trees we provide lungs for our urban environment”.

The Garden Design and Horticulture courses the students are completing are just two of a range of popular Horticultural qualifications offered by SAC. They range from Higher National Certificate and Diploma courses, to Degree and Honours Degrees in Horticulture, Landscape Management and Design. Activity is focussed on all three SAC’s campuses in Aberdeen, Ayr and Edinburgh.

SAC Horticulture Programme Leader Dr Margaret Norton said,

“An award at Gardening Scotland is a recognition of effort, skill and imagination. This year’s student entry represents a real team effort and a serious attempt to tailor the design to a particular client group, while recognizing the benefits gardening can bring to the urban environment most of us live in. I am always impressed by the enthusiasm our students have for showcase events like Gardening Scotland.”
 
Designer Janette was already a keen amateur gardener before applying to do SAC’s Higher National Diploma in Garden Design on the Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, campus. A busy mother of two she is in the second year of her part-time course.

Constructing the show garden with Project Manager Anna Graham were Andy Stewart, Ravelston, a full time member of the course, who worked with Daniel Crow, Loanhead, the only first year on the project, studying HND Horticulture.

The plants were chosen by Sally Sewell (Edinburgh), Mary Shore (Penicuik) and Mary Macdonald (Edinburgh). All three are in the second year of an HND Horticulture course.

Janette Laidlaw (Stenhousemuir) and Julia Pelczarska, from Poland prepared the explanatory leaflet visitors to Gardening Scotland can use to find out more about the SAC project.

Janette Laidlaw 07787 395547
SAC Course Tutor Colin Norton is available on 07779 219123
 
The students wish to offer special thanks to Bellwood Trees, Macplants, Brick & Stone (Scotland) Ltd., Craigmarloch Nurseries Ltd and Asthma Scotland for their help.

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News Release Contacts

SAC Contact

Dr Colin Norton
Lecturer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4079
Fax 0131 535 4171

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News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

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