Press release -
All rhododendrons lead to Argyll
Argyll and Bute will hold its first ever Rhododendron Festival this Spring as part of a new marketing campaign supported by VisitScotland, it was announced today (2 March 2015).
The Glorious Gardens of Argyll and Bute, the group which this month celebrates its 20th anniversary, was awarded £12,202 through the national tourism organisation’s Growth Fund to help highlight the stunning range of flowers and plants that thrive in the region’s exotic micro climate.
The group currently has 17 members but this will soon to be increased to 20. The members range from An Cala on the small Isle of Seil (on the other side of “the Bridge over the Atlantic”) to the 120-acre Benmore Botanic Garden in Dunoon, which boasts more than 300 kinds of rhododendron and more than a third of the world’s hardy conifer species.
Group secretary Sue Thornley, who owns Glenarn garden near Helensburgh with her husband Mike, said: “The range and variety of plants that flourish in the mild, moist climate and acid soils of Argyll and Bute is truly amazing. These plants come from every corner of the globe, from the Himalayas, North and South America and even from Australia and New Zealand.
“This award from the VisitScotland Growth Fund, match-funded by the group, will allow us to increase public awareness of this region’s remarkable heritage of world-class gardens and plants. We are also going to run our first Festival of Rhododendrons in April and May. This is something which, like the Scottish Snowdrop Festival, we hope will be an annual fixture in the horticultural calendar.”
The marketing campaign also includes a revamp of the group’s website, www.gardens-of-argyll.co.uk, the design and printing of special leaflets with itineraries and attendance at a number of trade shows, including Best of Britain and Ireland in Birmingham (11-12 March) and VisitScotland expo in Aberdeen (22 and 23 April).
David Adams McGilp, VisitScotland’s Regional Director for Argyll, said: “Argyll and Bute really does boast some of the most beautiful gardens in the country, and I am delighted that this award from the VisitScotland Growth Fund will help the group to raise its profile. I am sure that their new campaign will encourage even more visitors to the region, with the Festival of Rhododendrons set to be a particular highlight.”
VisitScotland research has shown that, every year, nearly 700,000 British holidaymakers visit a Scottish park or garden as part of their trip, with a further 35,000 coming to Scotland with the express purpose of sampling the country’s horticultural delights.
Those who enjoy a stroll through Scotland’s gardens spend £206 million during their holiday, with over 65s comprising nearly a quarter (23%) of those people who visit a park or garden as part of their trip.
ENDS
Gardens of Argyll and Bute consists of:
Achamore Garden, Isle of Gigha
An Cala, Isle of Seil
Angus Garde, Barguillean
Ardchattan Priory Gary, Ardchattan, Priory, by Oban
Ardencraig Garden, Rothsay, Isle of Bute
Ardkinglas Woodland Garden, Cairndow
Ardmaddy Castle Garden, by Oban
Ardtornish Garden, Morvern
Arduaine Garden, by Oban
Benmore Botanic Garden, Dunoon
Crarae Garden, Minard, Inveraray
Geilston Garden, Cardross
Glenarn, Rhu, Helensburgh
Inveraray Castle Garden, Inveraray
Kinlochlaich House Garden, Appin
Linn Botanic Gardens, Cove, By Helensburgh
Mount Stuart, Isle of Bute
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
- growth fund
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation has three key roles:
- To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
- To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
- To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to exceed customer expectations
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, the tourism economy supports 270,000 jobs in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the tourism economy contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
Year of Food and Drink 2015
- 2015 is the Year of Food and Drink, a celebration of Scotland’s natural larder and the role that food and drink plays in shaping our economic success.
- Scotland generates over £2.5m per day through food and drink tourism.
- A series of themed months will create an appetite for key areas of Scotland’s food and drink industries – from seafood and whisky to berries and high-quality meat
- For more information, visit www.visitscotland.com/tastescotland
