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SAC Design Students Find Their Galloway Wicker Man - SAC Entry for Gardening Scotland Takes Shape

SAC News Release Ref. No: 12N28
Published: 08 Feb 2012

A group of SAC Garden Design students have been scouring Galloway for their very own Wicker Man and, at last, they have found him! This time though there will be no human sacrifice, just many hours of hard work turning their garden design ideas into reality in time for Gardening Scotland, at Ingliston in June this year. Key to their concept is a giant, wicker, horn of plenty, filled with the plants and fruits of Scotland.

The eight, second year, HND Garden Design students, based at SAC’s Edinburgh Campus, come from across Scotland and beyond. Simon Mackay, from Inverness, designed an award winning garden last year for a Community Project in the Ayrshire village of Catrine when studying at SAC Ayr. His other Scottish team mates include Bernice Keegan from Livingston, Monica Cessford from Dunblane, Christine Jones from Glasgow and Paul Thomas from Perth. Daniel Harris comes from Morpeth and Roberto Arribas is Spanish, from Madrid.

The Student whose design was chosen as the team’s entry for Gardening Scotland is Anne Nurmiranta from Finland, now living in Edinburgh. She has a background in art and design, has been three years in Scotland and recently completed HNC’s in Sustainable Building Technology and garden design at SAC’s campus in Ayr. She drew on her childhood memories of holidays in the Finnish countryside.

The “Cornucopia” concept features a giant wicker horn of plenty, bursting with lush fruit plants that spread around the site and with water set in a natural landscape.

“Scotland is following Finland in recognising the health benefits of fruits like Cranberry, Cloudberry and Blaeberry”, says Anne. “We want to promote the use of soft fruit in garden design and draw attention to their beneficial qualities”.

However for the groups very own “Wicker Man” Geoff Forest the challenge will be building his biggest ever cornucopia, on-site at Ingliston and against the clock. From his home beside Loch Doon near Dalmellington in Ayrshire he runs his willow based business Sustainable Designs.

“The biggest cornucopia I have built so far was a metre long and this is going to be several times larger. But I like what the students are trying to do and I am interested in how the structure will take shape once I start weaving”. 

A pdf of the design and design team is available on request.

In the meantime the team are busy preparing and assembling the plants they need while actively seeking sponsors. SAC is underwriting the project but the students are looking for match funding from businesses involved in the soft fruit and berry industry in Scotland. Good Natured, an Angus-based  brand of pesticide residue free, fresh produce, Good Natured will be providing plants for the garden while Belhaven Fruit Farm plan to supply delicious fruit for the team to offer to the public who visit the stand.

Further information on this promotional opportunity may be obtained from monicacessford@hotmail.co.uk, Tel: 07510 025 535.

The HND in Garden Design Course at SAC is one of a comprehensive range of courses offered by SAC in horticulture and garden design. They are at levels ranging from higher national certificate and diploma through to Degree and Honours Degree. Courses can be studied full time or part time. They are spread across the SAC Campuses at Ayr and Edinburgh. See SAC Learning for further information.

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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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